Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif terms Indian missile strikes on terror targets as 'act of war'

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Indian missile strikes on targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Punjab province, calling the attacks an 'act of war.' He emphasised that Pakistan has the right to respond decisively.
Army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that the missile strikes, which targeted several cities, resulted in at least 26 fatalities and 46 injuries. He provided details of the attacks, including the deaths of 13 people in Bahwalpur's Ahmedpur East area, where the Subhan mosque was hit, and three fatalities in Muzaffarabad after the Bilal mosque was targeted. The attacks in Kotli and Muridke also caused casualties, with several others injured. However, no casualties were reported in the Sialkot and Shakargarh regions.
The Indian Army stated that the missile strikes were a retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, which took place on April 22, and targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK, areas believed to be involved in planning and directing attacks against India. The strikes were carried out early on May 7, with Indian officials claiming that the action was aimed at neutralising terrorist camps.
In response to the missile attacks, Prime Minister Sharif vowed that Pakistan would take appropriate action, highlighting that his country's military is well-prepared to address such challenges. He further noted that the National Security Council would convene for a meeting to assess the situation. Additionally, Pakistan has closed its airspace for 48 hours in light of the attacks.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the missile strikes as a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty, and Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Pakistan would respond both militarily and diplomatically. The Pakistani government emphasised that international media would be allowed to verify whether the strikes targeted terrorist camps or civilians.
The tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following the Pahalgam attack, which led to India imposing punitive measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Attari border crossing, and downgrading diplomatic ties. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously stated that the military had full operational freedom in responding to the terror attack.