At least 26 people, including several children, have been killed and 46 injured after India launched attacks on what it claimed were nine sites of “terrorist infrastructure” inside Pakistan, in a sharp escalation of hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Pakistan declared the strikes to be an “act of war” and claimed it had shot down five Indian air force jets and a drone. “Pakistan gives a befitting reply to India,” said the Pakistan government in a statement.