Indian missile strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir mark dramatic escalation in long-simmering conflict<\/p>\n
At least 26 people<\/strong>, including several children, have been killed and 46 injured after India launched attacks on what it claimed were nine sites of \u201cterrorist infrastructure\u201d inside Pakistan, in a sharp escalation of hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.<\/p>\n Pakistan called the strikes an \u201cact of war\u201d<\/strong> and claimed it had shot down several Indian air force jets. The office of the prime minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif<\/strong>, said the country\u2019s armed forces had been authorised to undertake \u201ccorresponding actions\u201d.<\/p>\n Pakistan<\/strong> said another five people were killed in artillery fire near the Line of Control<\/strong>, the de facto border between the two countries. Indian police and medics have said at least seven civilians were killed and 30 others wounded by retaliatory Pakistani firing and shelling overnight.<\/p>\n Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh<\/strong>,<\/strong> said on Wednesday his government had exercised its \u201cright to respond\u201d to avenge the killings of innocent civilians on Indian soil last month, claiming \u201cwe killed only those who killed our innocents\u201d.<\/p>\n Pakistan<\/strong>\u2019s National Security Committee, chaired by Sharif, said the Indian strikes were carried out \u201con the false pretext of the presence of imaginary terrorist camps\u201d and deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure, including mosques. \u201cThese unprovoked and unjustified attacks martyred innocent men, women and children,\u201d a statement said.<\/p>\n Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed<\/strong> said that 10 relatives and four associates of its leader, Masood Azhar<\/strong>,<\/strong> were killed in the Indian attack.<\/p>\n India\u2019s prime minister, Narendra Modi,<\/strong> cancelled plans to visit Europe.<\/p>\n India named its attack Operation Sindoor<\/strong> in a reference to the wives of victims of the militant attack in the Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam<\/a> in April.<\/p>\n China<\/strong> called on India and Pakistan \u201cto prioritise peace and stability, remain calm and exercise restraint, and avoid actions that could further complicate the situation\u201d. Russia<\/strong> said it was concerned by the development, while Turkey<\/strong> urged \u201ccommon sense\u201d.<\/p>\n The UK<\/strong> said it was ready to help both countries to de-escalate the situation. Kashmir has been disputed territory since the British partitioned India in 1947.<\/p>\n The UK foreign secretary, David Lammy,<\/strong> said Britain \u201chas close and unique relationships with both countries. I have made clear to my counterparts in India and Pakistan that if this escalates further, nobody wins.\u201d<\/p>\n