Pakistan downs 2 Indian jets as retaliation for late-night strikes at 5 sites: state media
The Dawn May 6, 2025
Sanaullah Khan | Dawn.com | AFP | Reuters | Nadir Guramani
DG ISPR says child killed, mosque targeted in Bahawalpur, two civilians killed in Kotli, vows "Pakistan will respond to this at a time and place of its own choosing"; Trump calls India actions a "shame".
The Pakistan military has brought down two Indian jets in retaliation for late-night strikes by its neighbouring country launched after midnight at the sites of Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh and Muzaffarabad, state media reported.
The same was confirmed by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who said that the response is ongoing, but did not share operational details.
“We shot down two Indian planes and we are responding to Indian aggression right now as we speak,” he told British broadcaster Sky News.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said three Pakistanis were killed and 12 were injured in “cowardly” missile strikes by India in Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh and Muzaffarabad after midnight for which retaliation by the military was already under way.
The strikes come as tensions have been escalating intensely between the two countries in the wake of a militant attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
Key highlights:
- India launches late-night strikes at sites of Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh and Muzaffarabad
- Three Pakistanis killed, 12 injured, mosques targeted
- Two Indian jets downed in military retaliation
- Indian brigade headquarters, Indian checkpost along Line of Control destroyed
- Flights on ground put on hold while all inbound, outbound flights diverted to Karachi
- National Security Committee meeting summoned at 10am
- Trump terms India’s actions a “shame”
A statement by state broadcaster PTV News, quoting security sources, said: “Pakistani forces are giving a befitting reply to Indian aggression. According to initial reports, the Pakistan Air Force has shot down two enemy aircraft. All Pakistani Air Force aircraft are safe. Pakistan armed forces are giving a befitting reply to the enemy’s aggression.”
PTV reported that Pakistan had also destroyed an Indian brigade headquarters in a retaliatory strike. It did not specify the location of the retaliatory strike.
A post from the broadcaster said that India is being given a “befitting response” at multiple locations.
PTV additionally reported that an Indian checkpost in the Dudhnial sector along the Line of Control was destroyed in a missile strike.
“Pak forces are responding to the naked aggression of the enemy,” the broadcaster said, citing security sources.
Appearing on British broadcaster Sky News around 2:45am, Tarar said Pakistan’s response is ongoing, but did not share operational details.
When asked about the potential for escalation, Tarar said it “is an evolving situation”.
He reiterated that Pakistan was expecting an attack by India and said that “they would be the aggressor”.
“We offered an investigation into the whole Pahalgam episode, we wanted a fair and transparent investigation. But … India, without evidence, has targeted civilians, women and children. India had no right to do that,” he added.
“As the minister for information, I have occupied a seat of responsibility,” Tarar said. “I have taken an oath and I will give you verified information.”
When asked why India blamed Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack, Tarar replied: “This area (Pahalgam) is a good 200 kilometres from the Line of Control. The FIR was filed in 10 minutes, but police arrived after one and a half hours.”
Tarar accused India of “running away” from an investigation into the Pahalgam attack and accused India’s governing party of “wanting a reason to attack Pakistan”.
“We have a high morale and we will respond to Indian aggression,” he said.
“India has no evidence whatsoever to link Pakistan to this incident,” he stressed. “India has attacked civilians … without any justifiable cause and because we have the right to self-defence, we will defend our country, we will respond.”
Questioned about terrorists found hiding in Pakistan in the past, including Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden, Tarar rejected the allegations and reiterated that Pakistan was facing terrorist attacks “every second week”.
“If you’re talking about the history — the Soviet invasion, the cold war — then that’s a different story,” he said.
Tarar also maintained that the US had thanked Pakistan for its efforts in the war against terrorism and “for the good fight we are fighting”.
“India will now face Pakistan’s very fierce response, because we are never the aggressors,” he said.
Referring to Pahalgam, Tarar said India “is questioning its own government”.
“They have no evidence, they have no facts and they ran away from the investigation which Pakistan had offered,” the minister added. They attacked our civilians, they attacked our mosque today, they attacked five localities. Pakistan will now respond and will respond very, very effectively.
“Our desire for peace should not be mistaken for weakness,” he said.
Speaking to ARY News at 1:06am, DG Chaudhry said: “Some time ago from now, the cowardly enemy India launched air strikes on Subhanullah mosque in Bahwalpur’s Ahmed East area, Kotli and Muzaffarabad at three places from the air.
“All of our air force jets are airborne. This cowardly and shameful attack was carried out from within India’s airspace. They were never allowed to come and intrude into the space of Pakistan.”
He noted: “Let me say it unequivocally: Pakistan will respond to this at a time and place of its own choosing. This heinous provocation will not go unanswered.”
When questioned about potential casualties, DG ISPR said that damage assessments are ongoing and that he would provide more information at a later point.
“This temporary happiness that India has achieved with this cowardly attack will be replaced with enduring grief.”
Shortly after, he provided a draft of the damage assessment while speaking on Geo News.
He said Kotli, Bahawalpur’s Ahmedpur East, Bagh, Muzaffarabad and Muridke were struck, according to the draft assessment.
“In Ahmedpur East, we have information about the martyrdom of a child and 12 people injured,” DG Chaudhry said. “Two civilians were martyred in Kotli,” he further said.
“We know that a mosque was struck [in Ahmedpur]; ordinance landed on a house near it,” he added. “Parents and a child are stuck and being rescued.”
The DG ISPR said that a mosque in Kotli was also attacked. “These attacks on mosques indicate the RSS Hindutva ideology, as they have targeted mosques,” he said.
In Muzaffarabad, a missile landed on the road. It did not cause any damage, but a further assessment is being carried out, he said.
“I want to tell you that Pakistan’s retaliation is underway on the ground and in the air.”
A post on X by state broadcaster PTV News, quoting security sources, said Pakistan has begun its retaliatory action.
“In the cowardly attack, one innocent child has been martyred so far, while one woman and one man are seriously injured. India targeted innocent Pakistanis in a cowardly attack under the cover of night,” the statement said.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told ARY News that civilian areas were attacked.
“The attacks were carried out on civilian areas,” Asif said, adding that the “cowards” attacked from their own airspace. “They never left their house. Let them come out, we will respond fittingly.”
When asked about Pakistan’s decisions, Asif replied that Pakistan will retaliate.
“We will give a far greater response than their own strike,” the minister said. “Not only did they attack civilians but they did it from their own airspace.”
On Geo News, Asif clarified that the strikes were launched from within India’s airspace.
“Women and children have been martyred in civilian areas. India is claiming it was targeting terrorist camps,” he said. “There is no such thing, international media can visit the targets so that India’s lies are exposed. We are offering international media to come wherever attacks have happened.”
The defence minister further said: “They don’t have the courage to attack us in our airspace, and they are firing on women and children. Mosques have been destroyed.”
He vowed that “we will give a befitting response,” he said. “They will immediately receive their due.”
Multiple loud explosions were heard in Azad Jammu and Kashmir close to the mountains around the city of Muzaffarabad after midnight, multiple Reuters witnesses said.
After the explosions, the city’s power was blacked out, the witnesses said.
Confirming the development, the Indian government said: “A little while ago, the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor” and hit infrastructure in Pakistan and AJK from which it alleged “terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed”.
“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution,” it said in the statement.
(To be continued)
