Pakistan has claimed that in retaliatory strikes, it shot down five Indian Air Force (IAF) jets, a drone, and destroyed a brigade headquarters after India carried out missile strikes in cities across Punjab and Azad Kashmir.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that all Pakistan Air Force jets remained safe after engaging Indian aircraft.

Among the destroyed Indian Air Force (IAF) jets are three French-made Rafales, one Su30MKI and one MIG-29 Fulcrum, confirmed a military spokesperson to Reuters.

The Pakistan armed forces also destroyed an enemy post in the Dhundial sector of the Line of Control (LoC) and shot down a drone. An intense exchange of fire is ongoing at the LoC with Pakistan Army engaging Indian Army positions.

Lt Gen Chaudhry said on early Wednesday that at least eight Pakistanis were martyred and 35 were injured in Indian missile attacks on cities in Punjab and Azad Kashmir.

DG ISPR elaborated that India launched 24 attacks on six sites in Pakistan, and all targets hit were civilian in nature, with most being mosques. The Indian munitions also caused damage to the surrounding residential structures.

The Indian strikes come amid heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours in the aftermath of an attack on tourists that left 26 dead in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK) Pahalgam.

Shortly after midnight, explosions were heard in multiple cities, including Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh and Muzaffarabad, reported state media.

Loud explosions were also reported in the mountainous region near Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, according to Reuters witnesses. The blasts triggered a citywide power outage, plunging the area into darkness.

Following the attacks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to the national security advisors from India and Pakistan.

"He urged both to keep lines of communication open and avoid escalation," a statement on X said.

Source: Geo News