India Pakistan LIVE: Two Indian jets 'shot down' as missile strikes launched on Pakistan

The Indian air carrier Spicejet has listed the following five Indian airports as closed to aircraft: Dharamshala, Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, and Amritsar.

It is not currently known whether these closures are in response to a specific security threat.

No official statement has currently been made on how travellers will be affected and what plans have been put in place to mitigate disruption.

Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says he is "very concerned about the Indian military operations across the Line of Control and international border".

She adds: "He calls for maximum military restraint from both countries. The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan."

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urges the nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakist (Image: Getty)

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has just issued a statement.

He says: "The treacherous enemy has launched a cowardly attack on five locations within Pakistan. This heinous act of aggression will not go unpunished.

"Pakistan reserves the absolute right to respond decisively to this unprovoked Indian attack — a resolute response is already underway.

"The entire nation stands united behind its armed forces, and our morale and resolve remain unshaken. Our thoughts and prayers are with the brave officers and soldiers of Pakistan.

"The people of Pakistan and its forces are fully prepared to confront and defeat any threat with our strength and determination.

"The enemy will never be allowed to achieve its malicious aims."

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (Image: AP)

Pakistani television network Saama TV has reported the downing of an Indian drone in the Barnala sector of Pakistan.

The report stated:

"The drone, believed to be on a reconnaissance mission, was intercepted and destroyed by Pakistani forces in what is being seen as a clear warning against further provocation."

It added "Earlier, Pakistan's security sources claimed that a Rafale and reportedly an SU-30 fighter jet belonging to the Indian Air Force were shot down in Bathinda and Akhnoor areas of India, amid rapidly intensifying hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours."

Security force officials and media gather outside a damaged building from a suspected Indian missile (Image: AP)

Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy has posted the following via her X account: "Deeply concerning to see military air strikes in Jammu Kashmir tonight by the Indian Government - the world cannot stand by as this conflict escalates and so too the risk of harm to innocent civilians in the region."

She added "Restraint by all concerned must be sought and secured."

1 hour ago22:52 Richard Ashmore

Fighting has erupted in India the same day Sir Keir Starmer hailed “a new era for trade and the economy” as he celebrated that landmark agreement on trade.

India is the world’s fourth-largest economy with a GDP of £4.2trillion. With a population of 1.4billion, it also has high levels of poverty but a growing middle class hungry for overseas goods. The deal is the culmination of work that began under the previous Conservative government, when current Tory leader Kemi Badenoch held negotiations in India in her role as trade secretary. It will add £4.8billion to the UK economy, the Government said.

1 hour ago22:44 Richard Ashmore

A statement by Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said: "The deceitful enemy has carried out cowardly attacks at five locations in Pakistan.

"Pakistan has every right to give a full and strong response to this act of war imposed by India - and a full response is being given. The entire nation stands with the Armed Forces of Pakistan, and the morale and spirit of the Pakistani people are high.

"The Pakistani nation and the Armed Forces of Pakistan know well how to deal with the enemy. We will never allow the enemy to succeed in its nefarious objectives."

2 hours ago22:40 Richard Ashmore

India has launched an attack against Pakistan tonight after vowing justice following a terror attack on April 22 that saw 26 people murdered in the disputed Kashmir region.

India had accused Pakistan of supporting the militants behind the attack on tourists at a scenic meadow near the resort town of Pahalgam.

Islamabad has rejected the allegations.

An Indian soldier on April 22 (Image: AP )

2 hours ago22:38 Richard Ashmore

The BBC reports India announced earlier today that it would stop its water from flowing over international borders.

"Now, India's water will flow for India's benefit, it will be conserved for India's benefit, and it will be used for India's progress", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.

Several rivers flow from India into Pakistan, providing vital water supplies to about 80% of farms there.

2 hours ago22:34 Richard Ashmore

BBC presenter Fiona Bruce was forced to interrupt her usual BBC News at 10 broadcast to issue some breaking news on India's attacks on Pakistan.

She told viewers: "News is just coming in. India has said it has launched an attack on nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan administered Kashmir.

"Pakistan has now said it is retaliating. These are - I will just remind you - two nuclear-powered states."

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Images of explosions in have flooded social media platforms in Pakistan purporting to show the damage caused by the missile strikes.

Express.co.uk are yet to verify these images.

Pictures of explosions in Pakistan (Image: X)

2 hours ago22:17 Richard Ashmore

The missiles early struck locations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and in the country's eastern Punjab province, according to three Pakistani security officials.

One of them 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.

2 hours ago22:16 Richard Ashmore

India’s Defence Ministry said in a statement that at least nine sites were targeted “where terrorist attacks against India have been planned.”

“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.”

“We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable,” the statement said.

The Indian army in a post on the social media platform X wrote: “Justice is served." It did not provide further details.

2 hours ago22:15 Richard Ashmore

India and Pakistan have reportedly engaged in open conflict in a worrying sign of tensions escalating between the two nuclear-armed nations.

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