Islamabad: In a press briefing, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister provided an account of recent military actions by India, asserting that they posed a threat to regional stability. The strikes, carried out on the night of May 6 and 7, targeted areas within Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, reportedly resulting in casualties and infrastructure damage.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, India’s coordinated missile, air, and drone strikes violated Pakistan’s sovereignty, hitting civilian areas in cities including Sialkot, Shakargarh, Muridke, and Bahawalpur, as well as Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The attacks reportedly led to the deaths of 26 civilians and injuries to 46 others.

The briefing highlighted the damage to mosques and the targeting of the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project, actions described as contraventions of international conventions. The incident has raised concerns about the security of commercial air traffic in the region, with passenger flights reportedly in the air during the strikes.

Pakistan’s government condemned the attacks as violations of international law and acts of war, emphasizing that they contravene the United Nations Charter and norms of inter-state relations. The Pakistan Air Force, in response, engaged Indian aircraft and reportedly downed five fighter jets and drones.

The escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors have drawn international concern, with Pakistan urging the global community to hold India accountable for its actions. The briefing rejected India’s claims of targeting terrorist infrastructure, suggesting that such allegations lack credible evidence.

The situation follows a call from Pakistan’s Prime Minister for an independent investigation into the Pahalgam attack, which India attributes to Pakistan, a claim Islamabad denies. Despite calls for restraint from international organizations, the briefing notes India’s continued aggressive stance.

Pakistan’s National Security Committee has affirmed its right to respond to the aggression, as per Article 51 of the UN Charter, while reaffirming its commitment to defending its sovereignty. The briefing concluded with a call for the international community to address what Pakistan describes as India’s irresponsible conduct.