Shehbaz Sharif Confirms Indian Strikes, Admits Five Sites Hit in ‘Operation Sindoor’

Islamabad/New Delhi In a rare admission, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday confirmed that Indian forces targeted five sites inside Pakistan, calling it a “cowardly act” but vowing a strong response. His remarks follow India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’, a coordinated military strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), launched in retaliation for the Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed 26 lives.

“The cunning enemy has carried out cowardly attacks on five locations in Pakistan,” Sharif posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Pakistan has every right to respond forcefully to this act of war imposed by India, and a forceful response is being given.”

Sharif also asserted that Pakistan’s armed forces and citizens stand united, adding, “The morale and spirit of the entire Pakistani nation are high. We will never allow the enemy to succeed in their nefarious goals.”

Earlier in the day, the Indian Army confirmed that nine terror sites were precisely targeted during the overnight operation. A statement from the Indian Armed Forces read: “A little while ago, the Indian Armed Forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where attacks against India have been planned and directed.”

Reiterating India’s calibrated approach, the army emphasized that no Pakistani military installations were targeted, underlining the “focused, measured, and non-escalatory” nature of the operation. “India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and the method of execution,” the statement noted.

The strikes were carried out in response to the brutal April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali national were killed. Indian authorities have maintained that these attacks were orchestrated from Pakistani soil.

The Indian Army posted a midnight message on X: “Justice is Served. Jai Hind.” A detailed briefing on Operation Sindoor is expected later today.

Confirming the attacks, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, acknowledged that missile strikes hit Kotli, Bahawalpur, and Muzaffarabad, calling them cowardly and provocative.

Tensions continue to rise between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The Pahalgam attack, targeting civilians—mostly tourists—has reignited the long-standing conflict, now pushing both sides to the edge of confrontation.

As both governments assess the fallout, the international community is likely to keep a close watch on this rapidly developing situation.

Team Maverick.