Indian Missile Strikes
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has formally informed top UN officials about what Pakistan has termed a series of deliberate missile strikes carried out by India on Pakistani territory, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The Pakistani envoy conveyed Islamabad’s grave concerns in official communications directed to the President of the UN Security Council, the President of the UN General Assembly, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The strikes, according to Pakistan’s UN Mission, represent a “gross violation” of the country’s sovereignty and breach established principles of international law.
The move follows directives from Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, who ordered immediate diplomatic outreach to raise alarm at the global level regarding what Islamabad describes as “blatant aggression” by its eastern neighbor.
The press release from Pakistan’s UN Mission emphasized that India’s actions not only threaten Pakistan’s territorial integrity but also pose a serious danger to broader international peace and security. Ambassador Ahmad also cited Pakistan’s right to self-defense, invoking Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which permits member states to respond to armed aggression.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a separate statement released by his spokesperson, expressed deep concern over the rapidly escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly along the Line of Control and the international border.
He called on both nuclear-armed nations to show restraint and engage in meaningful dialogue to de-escalate the situation. “The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” Guterres warned.
He also condemned the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of at least 26 civilians. The Secretary-General underscored that targeting innocent civilians is absolutely unacceptable and called for accountability through fair and lawful judicial processes.
According to Pakistan’s military, India launched a cowardly missile strike late Tuesday night, targeting six separate locations including Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad.
The attack resulted in the deaths of eight Pakistani civilians. In response, Pakistan launched a retaliatory operation that extended into the early hours of Wednesday morning. By 4 a.m., Pakistani forces had reportedly downed five Indian aircraft, including three Rafale fighter jets and one drone.
Additionally, a brigade headquarters of the Indian Army was destroyed during the counter-operations, according to Pakistan’s military sources.
The seriousness of the incident was further highlighted by international media, with CNN reporting a loud explosion near Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir. As tensions continue to rise, global powers and international organizations are watching the situation closely, urging both sides to exercise restraint and prioritize diplomatic solutions over military escalation.
