India launches missile strikes on Pakistan as Islamabad warns 'We will respond'

INDIA (Image: x)

India has launched a series missile strikes on Kashmir as Pakistan has vowed to "respond" with reports claiming a child has been killed and others injured. Conflict has erupted between the nuclear-capable neighbours with three missiles fired across the border from India into Pakistani-controlled territory on Wednesday (local time)

The missiles struck locations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and in the country's eastern Punjab province, according to three Pakistani security officials. One of the projectiles was said to have struck a mosque in the city of Bahawalpur in Punjab, where a child was killed, and a woman and man were injured, one official said.

The officials said Pakistan had launched retaliatory strikes, without providing any details. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media on the record. The Pakistani army spokesman, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif, told ARY News that the missiles were launched from within Indian territory and that no Indian aircraft had entered Pakistani airspace.

The BBC reports a spokesperson for Pakistan's military said Islamabad "will respond to this [attack] at a time and place of its choosing". They added: "All of our air force jets are airborne. This is a shameful and cowardly attack that was carried our from within India's airspace."

Tensions have been high in the region since a terror attack in India (Image: Getty )

In worrying signs of escalation the Indian Army account on X said that Pakistan had fired artillery into the border town of Poonch.

Posting on the social media site, a statement said: "Pakistan again violates the Ceasefire Agreement by firing Artillery in Bhimber Gali in Poonch, Rajauri area. Indian Army is responding appropriately in a caliberated manner."

The Indian military page also posted on X that “Justice is Served” and “Jai Hind!”, meaning “victory to India”.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s state broadcaster PTV News said a child had been killed in the attack from India. In a statement it said: "In the cowardly attack, one innocent child has been martyred so far, while one woman and one man are seriously injured."

India and Pakistan have reportedly erupted in conflict tonight (Image: X)

A statement from the Indian armed forces about the operation, dubbed Sindoor, said it had targeted nine sites. The statement read:

"A little while ago, the Indian Armed Forces launched ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed.

“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistan military facilities have been targeted,” the statement said, adding that “India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.”