Storylin: Pakistan's Foreign Ministry Wednesday condemned strikes by India's air force on sites in the Pakistani-controlled Kashmir and the eastern province of Punjab in a major escalation between the two nuclear-armed rivals. In a statement, the ministry said in an unprovoked and blatant act of war, the Indian Air Force, while remaining within Indian airspace, has violated Pakistan's sovereignty by using standoff weapons, targeting civilian population. India's act of aggression has resulted in martyrdom of civilians, including women and children and also caused a grave threat to commercial air traffic, according to the statement. Pakistan strongly condemns India's cowardly action, which is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, international law, and established norms of inter-state relations, it said. The statement also said Pakistan reserves the right to respond appropriately at a time and place of its choosing, in accordance with Article-51 of the UN Charter, and international law. Pakistan's government, armed forces and people "stand united in the face of Indian aggression", and "will always act with iron resolve to protect and preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan," it said. The Pakistan military said early Wednesday that India fired air-to-surface missiles to Bahawalpur district of Punjab province and Muzaffarabad and Kotli districts of the Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. At least eight civilians, including a child, were killed, 35 others injured, and two reported missing. India fired missiles at six locations in Pakistan, said the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistani military. In retaliation, Pakistan launched ground and air operations, downing five Indian aircraft, according to Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif. After India's overnight airstrikes, Pakistan announced the closure of the country's airspace for 48 hours and all flights across the country have been canceled. India's Ministry of Defense said in a press release that the Indian armed forces launched "Operation Sindoor", hitting "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan and the Pakistani-controlled Kashmir from where "terror attacks" against India had been planned and directed. The airstrikes came in the wake of the Pahalgam attack on tourists in the Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22, in which 25 Indian and one Nepali citizen were killed. The attack, which was described as the worst one on tourists in the Indian-controlled Kashmir in past several decades, led to escalating tensions between the two South Asian nations. Shotlist: Pakistan - May 7, 2025: 1. Various of Indian airstrikes targeting Pakistani infrastructure FILE: Pakistan - Date Unknown: 2. Aerial shot of Pakistani national flag FILE: Islamabad, Pakistan - May 5, 2023: 3. Office building of Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs FILE: Islamabad, Pakistan - 2021: 4. Various of cityscape FILE: New Delhi, India - Date Unknown: 5. Indian national flag 6. Various of India Gate, people, traffic FILE: New Delhi, India - Jan 3, 2022: 7. Rashtrapati Bhavan (official residence of Indian president), people, vehicles. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]