Chaudhry, the Director-General of the Pakistan Armed Forces Public Relations, stated on the 7th that during India's airstrike on Pakistan, dozens of domestic and international flights were still flying in Pakistani airspace, and India's actions put the lives of thousands of passengers in serious danger.
He said that India also damaged a hydroelectric dam located in the Pakistan-administered Kashmir region during the airstrike, and attacks on water facilities are “unacceptable and a dangerous escalation of the situation.”
He stated that Pakistan reserves the right to retaliate and will respond to “this act of aggression by India” at a time, place, and manner of its choosing.
He pointed out that in the retaliatory actions, Pakistani air force fighter jets shot down five Indian aircraft, and the wreckage fell into Indian territory or the Indian-administered Kashmir region. However, Pakistani fighter jets did not enter Indian airspace or the Indian-administered Kashmir region during the retaliation. The Pakistani military also destroyed several Indian outposts and a military command center in the retaliation.
Lifted Airspace Blockade
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority announced on the 7th that it had lifted the airspace blockade imposed earlier that day, resuming the operation of international and domestic flights in major cities within the country, but the specific flights and routes to be resumed would be determined by each airline.
On the 7th, India conducted airstrikes on civilian settlements in Bahawalpur, Sialkot, Sheikhupura, and Shakargarh in the eastern Punjab province of Pakistan, as well as in the capital Muzaffarabad and the Godeli region of the Pakistani-administered Kashmir area. Additionally, they fired artillery along the border in the Indian-administered Kashmir, resulting in at least 31 deaths and 57 injuries.