31 civilians killed, 57 injured in Indian attack, border clash with Pakistan: official

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ISLAMABAD -- Thirty-one people were killed and 57 others injured in an Indian attack on Pakistani territory and subsequent exchange of fire between Pakistani and Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border that divides the disputed region of Kashmir, a spokesperson for the Pakistani army's media wing said on Wednesday.

India carried out large-scale "ceasefire violations" in border areas throughout the day on Wednesday, following attacks on houses and mosques that targeted civilians in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and the eastern Punjab province during Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday morning, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, told the media during a briefing.

He stated that Pakistan responded effectively by targeting an Indian brigade headquarters, a battalion headquarters, and multiple military posts across the LoC in the Kashmir region, and along the working boundary between Pakistan's Punjab and India-controlled Kashmir during the day-long exchange of fire.

The ISPR chief said that Indian jet fighters struck six locations within Pakistani territory, but the Pakistani Air Force responded by shooting down five Indian fighter jets with precision.

In addition, the Pakistani army shot down seven Indian spy and combat drones and captured two more using advanced technology, he added.

"We were well-prepared. Pakistan did not suffer any combat casualties during the exchange of fire, and the Air Force did not lose any aircraft or assets in the strikes," he said.

India had accused Pakistan of hosting terrorist camps, but after Pakistan invited both local and foreign media to inspect the alleged sites, India launched a surprise night-time attack on those locations, he added.

Pakistan reserves the right to respond in self-defense at a time of its choosing, he said, adding that the country's commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness.

While Pakistan seeks regional stability, it will not hesitate to act decisively if provoked, Chaudhry said.