India's strikes in Pakistan-controlled territory kill at least 8 people, authorities say
CBC
India fired missiles at multiple locations in Pakistani-controlled territory early Wednesday — killing at least eight people including a child according to Pakistan's military spokesperson, which that country's leader called an act of war.
At least three civilians were also killed in retaliatory shelling by Pakistani troops into Indian-controlled Kashmir, the Indian army said in a statement.
India said it was striking infrastructure used by militants linked to last month's massacre of tourists in its portion of Kashmir.
Tensions have soared between the nuclear-armed neighbours since that attack, which India has blamed Pakistan for backing. Islamabad has denied the accusation.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Wednesday's airstrikes and said the "deceitful enemy has carried out cowardly attacks" and that his country would retaliate.
"Pakistan has every right to give a robust response to this act of war imposed by India, and a strong response is indeed being given," Sharif said.
He said his country and its armed forces "know very well how to deal with the enemy." Sharif has convened a meeting of the National Security Committee for Wednesday morning.
The missiles struck locations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and in the country's eastern Punjab province.
Pakistan's military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif, said India launched attacks on six different locations, killing eight people and injuring 38 others. He said in televised remarks that five civilians were killed in Ahmedpur East in Punjab province and that three people were killed at other locations.
The state-run Pakistan Television, quoting security officials, said Pakistan's air force shot down five Indian jets but provided no additional details. There was no immediate comment from India about Pakistan's claim.
Shortly after the attacks, an aircraft fell on a school building in the outskirts of the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, according to Srinagar police and residents.
"There was a huge fire in the sky. Then we heard several blasts also," said Mohammed Yousuf Dar, a resident of southern Wuyan village in the Pampore area, where the incident occurred.
Firefighters struggled for hours to douse off the fires. Police and military officials sealed off the area immediately.
Another aircraft fell in an open field in the village of Bharda Kalan near southern Akhnoor town, close to the Line of Control in Indian-controlled Kashmir shortly after the strikes.
