Lahore: Pakistan has authorised its Armed forces to undertake “corresponding actions” after India conducted Operation Sindoor to target selected terror camps at 9 locations in the country and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
After chairing the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting on Wednesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that his country reserved the right to respond to India’s airstrikes in “self-defence” at a time, place and manner of its choosing, said a statement from Pakistan’s PMO.
The PMO condemned India’s “naked aggression”, and alleged that the “unprovoked and unjustified attacks” deliberately targeted Pakistani civilians, including women and children.
India, on the other hand, said its forces hit nine facilities linked to terror groups, and its actions have been “focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature”.
NSC, citing Article 51 of the UN Charter, said Pakistan has the right to retaliate in self-defence to “avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives and blatant violation of its sovereignty.”
India was accused of blatant violations of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. NSC accused India’s military actions of “manifestly constituting acts of war under international law.”
India’s pre-dawn strikes were to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were shot dead.
India blamed Pakistan for backing the Pahalgam attack, triggering series of heated threats and diplomatic tit-for-tat measures.