Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to avenge “every drop of blood” following Indian missile strikes that reportedly killed 31 people and injured 57 others.
In a televised address to the nation today, Sharif described India’s attacks as “cowardly,” asserting that Pakistan would respond decisively.
“Keep your hands on your hearts,” he said.
“I promise that we will take revenge for every drop of blood of these victims.”
Sharif stated that the Indian strikes had resulted in the deaths of civilians, including women and children. He highlighted the case of one victim, saying: “A seven-year-old boy was at home with his mother and brother when he was killed.”
The Prime Minister also said Pakistan’s air force had swiftly retaliated, claiming: “They destroyed the planes of our attackers and enemies.”
India has not confirmed these claims.
Sharif further stated that India may have assumed Pakistan would not respond forcefully, adding: “They forgot that this is…a nation who knows to fight for their country.”
He insisted Pakistan had no connection to last month’s deadly attack in Pahalgam, stating it “wasn’t related” to Pakistan and the country had been wrongly accused.
“We asked for an investigation into the Pahalgam incident,” Sharif said. “They disagreed and ignored [the request].”
India has stated its missile strikes were in response to a militant attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of several Indian tourists.
Following the strikes, Sharif reported that Pakistani forces engaged in “a continuous fight” along the Line of Control within one hour of the initial attack.
“Our army fought bravely,” Sharif said, assuring the Pakistani public: “My Pakistani people, for your own safety, our army and our people, we will always be united. We will definitely stand against them [India] and win.”
India, meanwhile, has stated that at least 15 civilians were killed by Pakistani shelling on its side of the Line of Control.
The ongoing tensions in Kashmir have sparked international concern due to the nuclear capabilities of both nations.
The region has been the site of a decades-long insurgency, resulting in thousands of deaths, with both India and Pakistan claiming the territory in its entirety.