New Delhi: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif vowed that the country “will avenge the loss of every life” taken in Operation Sindoor.
Speaking at a late-night press conference Wednesday, Sharif declared that Pakistan and its military had once again demonstrated their “superiority over the adversary in conventional warfare.”
He claimed that the Pakistan Air Force inflicted such severe damage on Indian forces that the impact would leave lasting scars. “These are wounds even time won’t be able to heal,” he said.
In a separate presser post Sharif’s address, The Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry confirmed the official number of casualties, stating that 31 civilians and 57 others were injured in Operation Sindoor.
He added that the Pakistani military is “responding in kind” to LoC firings, “inflicting significant losses and destroying checkposts”, while sharing alleged visuals of firing on checkposts. He claimed no loss of life had been sustained by the army.
“We took 150 independent journalists to Muridke, Kotli and others to see that these ‘imaginary’ terror spots do not exist, rather these are mosques where civilians were killed. I don’t think something like this has ever happened in warfare,” said Lt Gen Chaudhry.
He also alleged 57 flights were airborne at the time of Indian strikes, including both international and domestic flights. These flights were not limited to Pakistani airlines, but also included Saudi, Qatari, Emirates, Etihad, Gulf Air, Chinese, and Korean flights.
“No words of condemnation are enough for India’s actions. The strikes on 6 and 7 May reveal the true, shameful face of our enemy—so fearful and weak that it resorts to attacking civilians and populated areas under the cover of darkness, rather than confronting our military directly,” Chaudhry said.
Criticising the overnight air strikes by Indian forces, the DG ISPR questioned the legitimacy of targeting civilians and residential areas under the pretext of counterterrorism. He also claimed India attacked the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project, which was in direct contention of Article 54 and 56 of the 1977 Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits attacking, destroying, removing, or rendering useless essential objects for the survival of the civilian population, such as drinking water supplies and irrigation systems.
Displaying visuals of those affected by the attacks, including injured children, he asked, “Are these the so-called terrorists India claims to have targeted on the night of 6 and 7 May? This is exactly what we have come to expect from India.”
He further alleged that India has repeatedly used such tactics and continues to promote terrorism in Pakistan through its proxies, and accused India of being involved in transnational terrorism and targeted killings, stating, “It’s not surprising, as once you start supporting terrorism, it only takes a moment to become a terrorist yourself. There is clear proof and evidence before the world of India’s role in these acts.”
The DG ISPR reiterated the National Security Committee’s statement, confirming that Pakistan’s armed forces have been authorised to respond to Indian aggression at a time, place, and manner of their choosing, in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter.
He echoed PM Sharif and concluded by saying Pakistan will “avenge the blood spilt of each of its innocent civilians.”
Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir Visited Pakistan Air Headquarters and met Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu.
During the visit, the Army Chief reportedly issued directives to the Chief of Air Staff and the Air Force Falcons regarding the Indian Air Force.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
Also read: Pakistan vows revenge after India’s Op Sindoor, NSC warns of retaliation