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Missile strikes in Bahawalpur, Kotli, Muzaffarabad by India: DG ISPR
Sanaullah Khan | Dawn.com | AFP | Reuters
May 6, 2025

Visuals from Bahwalpur on Wednesday. — DawnNewsTV
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry early on Wednesday said that missile strikes were fired by India at Kotli, Bahwalpur and Muzaffarabad in a “cowardly attack” amid intense tensions between the two countries in the wake of a militant attack in occupied Kashmir.
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.”
Multiple loud explosions were heard in Azad Jammu and Kashmir area 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 armed forces launched “Operation Sindoor”, hitting multiple sites in Pakistan and AJK.
No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted, the statement added.
The April 22 attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in one of the deadliest assaults since 2000. India, without investigation or evidence, implied “cross-border linkages” of the attackers. Pakistan has firmly rejected the claim and called for a neutral probe.
Tensions have since spiked, with Pakistan reinforcing its forces as it expected an incursion and India’s premier granting “operational freedom” to his military. As temperatures remain high, with the military warning of a “swift” response to any misadventure by New Delhi, diplomatic channels have remained engaged to prevent conflict.
Ready at any time: Khawaja Asif
Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that a clash with India “can happen anytime” amid the ongoing tensions between the two countries in the wake of a militant attack in occupied Kashmir.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the headquarters of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) earlier in the day, where he was briefed on the country’s preparation for a “conventional threat”. Asif was also part of the visit.
Speaking in an interview on Geo News show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ on the briefings in the ISI HQ, the defence minister reiterated that he had already said before that a clash with India was imminent.
“That is still imminent today and can happen anytime,” he said, adding that a confrontation could be “one of the choice” India could want to adopt but “we have developed a countermeasure for every choice, whether that is a surgical strike or ground attack or air attack or naval engagement.
“We are ready for them everywhere at all times.”
He said the “crux” of today’s briefing was that “every kind of incursion or attack is being expected from them.”
Asif added that the briefing also delved into Pakistan’s strategy for responding to any situation.

Missile strikes in Bahawalpur, Kotli, Muzaffarabad by India: DG ISPR
“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," DG ISPR vows.
www.dawn.com