Global concern has been caused by overnight hostilities between India and Pakistan over the deaths of 26 people in Kashmir a few days ago, with the first report claiming 11 civilian deaths (8 in Pakistan and 3 in India) and the shooting down of five Indian fighter jets.

The hostilities that bring the two countries to the brink of a new war – the seventh in their history – began with Operation Sindoor, in which Delhi said it had targeted “terrorist infrastructure” at nine locations in Pakistan and the Pakistan-controlled part of Kashmir.

Pakistan, for its part, reportedly responded by shooting down at least five Indian Air Force fighters, calling it an “act of war” on India’s part. “Pakistan has given due response to India,” the Islamabad government said in a statement. “I can confirm that we shot down five Indian fighters – three Rafale, one SU-30 and one MiG-29,” a Pakistani army spokesman said.

India has accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir in April. “We launched #OperationSindoor, a restrained response to the brutal terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 26 people, including a Nepali citizen. Focused strikes were carried out on nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Significantly, no Pakistani military installations were hit, reflecting India’s non-escalatory approach. This operation underscores India’s resolve to hold the perpetrators accountable while avoiding unnecessary provocations,” the statement from India’s defence ministry said.

A Pakistani army spokesman said eight civilians had died in “24 strikes” by Indian armed forces in “six locations” in Pakistan. General Chaudhry added that 35 others were injured and two others were missing. Among the victims is a “three-year-old girl” at a mosque in Bahawalpur, in Pakistan’s Punjab

The Indian armed forces, for their part, said at least three civilians had died amid ongoing exchanges of fire, particularly artillery fire, along the so-called Line of Control – the de facto border between India and Pakistan – in Kashmir.

“Three innocent civilians lost their lives during the firing/blind shelling” by Pakistan, the Indian armed forces said, signalling that there would be retaliation “in a proportionate manner.”

India has informed the US of its strikes on Pakistan

India’s national security adviser Ajit Doval briefed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio an hour after New Delhi launched strikes on Pakistani territory, the Indian embassy in Washington said.

“India’s actions were targeted and precise,” the embassy asserted in the press release it issued, adding that Rubio, who is also currently serving as White House national security adviser, was briefed on the “measures taken.”

UN: “The world would not tolerate a military conflict”

“The world would not tolerate a military conflict” between India and Pakistan, the UN Secretary-General’s spokesman said yesterday (Tuesday) after Indian armed forces carried out bombing raids against Pakistan, which has indicated it would retaliate.

Antonio Guterres “calls on the two countries to show restraint,” added spokesman Stephane Dujarik.