India has said deadly airstrikes have been launched in Pakistan to ‘deter’ more terror attacks on its own soil as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours exploded into full-blown conflict.
Nine areas in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, designated terror targets by India, were targeted with missiles in an overnight attack resulting in the deaths of at least 26 people, according to local officials.
Pakistan immediately vowed to retaliate against what it described as an ‘act of war’ claiming it shot down five Indian fighter jets, while shells have been fired along the along the Line of Control – the de facto border between the two countries.
Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri has said the strikes were carried out to prevent terror attacks in India following the atrocity in Indian Kashmir which saw 26 people, mostly tourists, killed last month.
World leaders including US President Donald Trump have called for restraint amid fears of further conflict escalating.
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