Pakistan affirms readiness to defend sovereignty amid heightened tensions

ISLAMABAD — Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday claimed that Indian forces raised white flags along the Line of Control (LoC), a move he described as a sign of capitulation following Pakistan’s military response to recent Indian airstrikes.

Addressing a press conference at the Pak-China Friendship Centre, Tarar hailed the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) for its decisive and proportionate countermeasures. According to the minister, PAF successfully downed five Indian fighter jets and an Israeli-made drone after they violated Pakistani airspace.

Tarar stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was closely overseeing the unfolding security situation and emphasized that both civilian and military leadership remained united in defense of the nation. He denounced India’s air raids, which he said deliberately targeted civilian areas in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in significant casualties.

Referring to Indian media outlets, Tarar said that even segments of India’s press had acknowledged the destruction of Indian military assets. He added that Pakistan’s citizens were offering prayers for the armed forces and stood in unwavering support of their efforts.

He reiterated Pakistan’s stance as a long-time victim of terrorism, highlighting that over 90,000 Pakistanis have died in related violence. Tarar also pointed to Pakistan’s offer of an independent probe into the Pahalgam incident — an offer India rejected, which he said demonstrated India’s aversion to transparency.

Accusing New Delhi of running a propaganda campaign to malign Pakistan internationally, the minister reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to peace and regional stability.

Meanwhile, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that 26 civilians were killed and 46 injured in Indian airstrikes overnight. Speaking at a separate briefing, he stated that Indian forces carried out 24 airstrikes across six locations in Pakistan.

Among the dead were two young girls, seven women, and several men in Bahawalpur’s Ahmedpur East area. Strikes in Muzaffarabad and Kotli also targeted mosques, resulting in the deaths of children and teenagers.

Gen. Chaudhry said that mosques had been deliberately targeted, describing it as a manifestation of the “extremist ideology” of India’s Hindutva-influenced government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He confirmed the destruction of three Rafale jets, a MiG-29, an SU-series aircraft, and a Heron drone in retaliation. The aircraft were downed in locations including Bhatinda, Jammu, Akhnoor, Srinagar, and Avantipur.

He stressed that Pakistan engaged only after Indian aircraft conducted strikes inside Pakistani territory, stating the response was necessary to uphold national sovereignty and protect civilian lives.