‘Indian Strikes an Act of War’: Shehbaz Sharif Warns of Strong Response

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned India's missile strikes on multiple locations in Pakistan-controlled territory, calling them a "cowardly act of war" and declaring that the country is issuing a forceful military response.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sharif stated: "Pakistan has every right to respond forcefully to this act of war imposed by India, and a forceful response is being given."

The Indian strikes, which occurred as part of "Operation Sindoor," reportedly targeted five sites in Pakistan-administered regions. Pakistan has claimed civilian casualties, while India has maintained that its strikes were focused, measured, and aimed only at terror infrastructure.

Sharif emphasized that the "entire nation" stands with the armed forces and said Pakistan's response will be resolute and united.

"The entire nation stands with our armed forces on how to deal with the enemy," he said.

In a sign of mounting tension, Sharif has also convened a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) in Islamabad. According to Geo TV, citing Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, the high-level meeting is scheduled for 10am local time to assess the situation and determine Pakistan's next course of action.

The NSC meeting will likely involve top military, intelligence, and civilian leadership and could set the tone for Pakistan's diplomatic and strategic posture in response to the Indian operation.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan's military confirmed that Indian missiles struck locations including Kotli, Muzaffarabad, and Bahawalpur, prompting a nationwide alert. Pakistan claims it has responded militarily while keeping its airspace and forces on high alert.

Meanwhile, India has said its operations were non-escalatory and avoided any civilian or military Pakistani facilities, underscoring what it called a "restrained and calibrated" response to the recent deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.