8 killed in Indian missile strikes: Pakistan

At least eight people, including a child, were killed after India fired missiles into Pakistani territory early Wednesday, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry.

"In total in at six locations there were 24 impacts in Pakistan. In these 24 impacts eight Pakistanis have been martyred and 35 have been injured and two are missing," Lt Gen Chaudhry Ahmed Sharif said, adding one 3-year-old girl was killed in a mosque in Punjab province.

The Indian strikes come amid heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours, following an attack on tourists that left 26 dead in Indian- administered Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

The ISPR DG said all Indian targets hit were civilian in nature, with most being mosques. The strikes also damaged surrounding residential structures.

Shortly after midnight, explosions were reported in multiple cities, including Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh, and Muzaffarabad.

Following the attacks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with the national security advisers of both India and Pakistan.

"He urged both to keep lines of communication open and avoid escalation," a statement on X said.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that the Pakistan Air Force shot down at least five Indian fighter jets in response to India’s cross-border aggression.

Islamabad has informed the United Nations Security Council about the escalating situation. In its communication, Pakistan raised serious concerns over what it described as India’s unprovoked aggression, warning that the actions have further heightened regional tensions.