Shahbaz Sharif Vows Response to India's Strikes
As the situation continues to unfold, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's vow to respond to India's strikes has raised concerns about the potential for further escalation, with the US and other countries urging both sides to exercise restraint and find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif stated that the country has every right to give a befitting reply to India's military operation, which targeted locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and a befitting reply is being given.
The operation, code-named "Operation Sindoor", was launched by India in response to a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, which killed 25 Indians and one Nepali national. India accused Pakistan of supporting militants, which Islamabad denies. The strikes targeted nine locations, including Muzaffarabad and Kotli, and Bahawalpur in the Pakistani province of Punjab.
Pakistan's military spokesperson said that the country will respond to the operation at a time and place of its own choosing and that this heinous provocation will not go unanswered. The US President, Joe Biden, said that India's confirmed military operation against Pakistan is "a shame" and the US State Department is closely monitoring developments.
The escalation comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan over the disputed territory of Kashmir, which has been a long-standing flashpoint between the two countries. The region has seen two wars and an armed insurgency against Indian rule since 1989, with militants targeting security forces and civilians.
The situation remains volatile, with both countries taking tit-for-tat measures against each other, including expelling diplomats and suspending visas. The international community is closely watching the developments, with the US calling for restraint and de-escalation.