Pakistan announces military counteroffensive

Pakistan announced on Friday night (early morning in Portugal) a military operation against India, at the same time as the conflict in the Kashmir region has intensified.

The counter-offensive, “Operation Banyan Marsus,” has already involved attacks on Indian air defenses, according to Islamabad — a report that has not been confirmed by the Indian government. International correspondents in Kashmir have also reported hearing explosions, the BBC says.

Hours later, New Delhi accused Pakistan of using high-speed missiles and drones to target Indian air bases. India also accused its neighbour of preparing a larger offensive — “they are moving their troops to areas further ahead [along the line of contact in Kashmir], indicating an offensive intent to further escalate the situation,” an Indian army spokeswoman said.

Pakistan says end of military operation “will depend” on India

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said the operation launched by the Pakistani army on Saturday will end "somehow" and that the outcome is in India's hands.

“This operation that we started today will end somehow. It all depends on what India wants,” Dar, also foreign minister, told Pakistan’s Geo.tv.

According to the minister, Islamabad “had no other answer” and simply adopted a defensive posture, responding in a “proportionate and measured” manner to Indian military actions. “Operation Banyan Marsus” will “last for some time”, he added.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif was asked about the use of nuclear weapons. The minister said that this option is “present,” but should be seen as a “very distant possibility”: “We should not discuss it in the immediate context.” “Before we get to that point, I think the temperature has to come down. There is no meeting scheduled at the National Command Authority, nor is there one scheduled.”

Pakistan closes airspace and India partially closes

Pakistan's Airports Authority announced on Saturday that the country's airspace will be closed "to all traffic" for part of the day, after the government accused India of attacking Pakistani "military installations".

Between 3:15 am (11:15 pm on Friday in Lisbon) and 12 pm (8 am), the airspace will be closed, according to that department.

The announcement comes after the Pakistani government claimed that India fired missiles at “key military installations” including Noor Khan, Shorkot and Murid air bases. “Air defence systems neutralised and intercepted these hostile attacks in time,” the government wrote on social media platform X.

Authorities confirm that there were no casualties or material damage.

“India must prepare for Pakistan’s response. Pakistan’s armed forces are fully prepared to defend the homeland, airspace and national security,” the message read. Just hours earlier, India accused Pakistan of “using civilian aircraft as shields” by failing to close civilian airspace.

India has also closed part of its airspace in the north and west. The Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation announced this Saturday morning that 32 airports will be closed until May 15.

G7 countries urge India, Pakistan to exercise “maximum restraint”

Foreign ministers from G7 countries have meanwhile urged India and Pakistan to exercise “maximum restraint” following an escalation in tensions that has seen the two countries exchange military strikes.

“We call on India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint. Further military escalation puts regional stability at serious risk. We are deeply concerned about the safety of civilians on both sides,” read a joint statement from the ministries of Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the High Representative of the European Union.

The group of the world's most industrialized countries also called for “direct dialogue” between the two nuclear powers, “with a view to a peaceful solution”.

“We continue to closely monitor developments and express our support for a swift and lasting diplomatic resolution,” the message concluded.

The crisis between the two nuclear powers, triggered by a deadly terrorist attack on April 22 that killed a group of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, has been escalating in recent weeks, escalating on Wednesday with New Delhi's bombing of suspected terrorist bases in Pakistani territory.

Pakistan responded early Saturday with a missile attack on several Indian military installations in the north of the country.