Armed forces authorised to strike India back at time, place of choosing

The National Security Council's (NSC) meeting has clarified that in consonance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, Pakistan reserved the right to respond in self-defence at a time, place, and manner of its choosing to avenge the loss of civilian lives and “blatant violation of its sovereignty," a press release issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) today (Wednesday) has said. 

During the intervening night between May 6 and May 7, India launched 24 attacks on six different places on Pakistani soil, martyring 26 innocent civilians and leaving 46 wounded, Director General Inter Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed in a press briefing Wednesday morning. 

DG ISPR, while outlining Pakistan’s response to India’s aggression, said that one jet each was shot down in the General Areas of Bhatinda, Jammu, Akhnoor, and Srinagar, while two were brought down in Avantipur. He added that the downed Indian aircraft included three Rafale jets, one MiG-29, one SU aircraft, and a Heron combat drone.

“The Armed Forces of Pakistan have duly been authorised to undertake corresponding actions in this regard,” read the PMO statement, which was issued after the NSC meeting.

The forum, convened under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, offered fateha for the souls of the innocent civilians martyred in India’s strikes, extended its heartfelt condolences to the near ones of the martyrs, and wished speedy recovery for the injured, said the statement.

The statement further said, “The Armed Forces of Pakistan, in line with the exercise of the right of self-defense and response framework outlined in NSC statement dated 22 April 2025, resolutely defended the territorial integrity of Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, against the Indian aggression, while also bringing down five Indian fighter aircrafts and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the process.”

The statement elaborated that the Indian Armed Forces on the night of 6/7 May 2025, launched coordinated missile, air and drone strikes on multiple locations within Pakistan’s sovereign territory, including Sialkot, Shakargarh, Muridke and Bahawalpur in Punjab, Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Terming the attack “unprovoked” and “unjustified” the forum said that the enemy deliberately targeted the civilian areas on the false pretext of presence of imaginary terrorist camps, resulting in the martyrdom of innocent men, women, and children, and causing damage to the civilian infrastructure, including mosques.

“India’s act of aggression also caused grave danger to commercial airlines belonging to brotherly gulf countries, endangering the lives of thousands of on-board passengers. Besides, the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project was also deliberately targeted in violation of international conventions,” the statement reads.

PMO’s statement further said that the NSC meeting condemned the “illegal acts” by India as “blatant violations of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which manifestly constituted acts of war under international law”.

“The deliberate targeting of civilians, including innocent women and children, by the Indian military constitutes a heinous and shameful crime, that is in violation of all norms of human behaviour and the provisions of international law.”

“Pakistan has been emphatically rejecting Indian allegations claiming the presence of terrorist camps on its territory. It would also be recalled that immediately after 22 April 2025, Pakistan made a sincere offer for a credible, transparent and neutral investigation, which unfortunately was not accepted. The international media personnel had already visited these “imaginary terrorist camps” on 6 May 2025, and more visits were planned for 7 May 2025. 

However, apprehensive of its falsehood being exposed, and without a shred of evidence about its claims, the Indian leadership, bereft of any morality, has now gone to the extent of attacking innocent civilians in order to satiate its delusional thoughts and short-sighted political objectives. Attacking its innocent people is neither tolerable nor acceptable to Pakistan. India, against all sanity and rationality has once again ignited an inferno in the region, the responsibility for ensuing consequences shall lie squarely with India,” the statement concluded.