The Indian government says its forces have launched "Operation Sindoor", "hitting terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir "from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed".
In a statement, the Indian government said: "Nine sites have been targeted… Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.”
The statement said the attack was ordered after last month’s deadly militant attack on tourists in India-administered Kashmir.
Explosions have been reported in several places in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir with reports of power cuts in the city of Muzaffarabad.
The head of Pakistan’s military public relations wing confirmed that three areas have been hit by Indian missiles, Muzaffarabad and Kotli in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and Bahwalpur.
Relations between India and Pakistan have deteriorated sharply following the attack by Islamist militants on Hindu tourists that killed 26 people in Indian-administered Kashmir last month.
Pakistan said it would “respond to this [attack] at a time and place of its choosing… All of our air force jets are airborne. This is a shameful and cowardly attack that was carried out from within India’s airspace."
Fiona Bruce presents BBC News at Ten reporting by international editor Jeremy Bowen and Samira Hussain in New Delhi.
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