Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif authorized the armed forces to undertake retaliatory measures against India in response to its “unprovoked, cowardly and unlawful” missile, air and drone strikes on multiple locations across Pakistan’s sovereign territory.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) chaired by the Prime Minister, which also condemned the Indian attacks as a blatant violation of international law and Pakistan’s territorial integrity. The NSC offered Fateha for the civilians martyred in the strikes and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.
According to the NSC statement, Indian forces targeted civilian areas in Sialkot, Shakargarh, Muridke and Bahawalpur in Punjab, as well as Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, on the night of May 6 and 7. The attacks, launched under the pretext of striking alleged terrorist camps, resulted in the martyrdom of innocent men, women and children, and damaged mosques and civilian infrastructure. The Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project was also reportedly targeted, and the lives of thousands of passengers aboard commercial airliners from Gulf countries were endangered.
The NSC declared the strikes “acts of war” and a “heinous and shameful crime” in violation of international norms. It recalled that Pakistan had already invited international media for on-ground verification of Indian allegations regarding terrorist camps, but India chose aggression over transparency.
The committee noted that Pakistan’s armed forces had “resolutely defended” the country’s territorial integrity, downing five Indian fighter jets and drones. It emphasized that under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Pakistan reserved the right to respond “at a time, place and manner of its choosing.”
“The Armed Forces of Pakistan have duly been authorized to undertake corresponding actions in this regard,” read the official statement.
The NSC urged the international community to take notice of what it termed “India’s naked aggression” and hold New Delhi accountable. It reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace with dignity and honour but warned that any violation of its sovereignty or harm to its people would not be tolerated.
