UPDATE - Death toll from Indian military strikes, cross-border firing stands at 31

UPDATES WITH DEFENSE MINISTER REMARKS, CHANGES DECK

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan’s military on Wednesday confirmed that at least 31 people were killed after India launched missile strikes into its territory and due to cross-border firing along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between the two countries.

The number of injured, meanwhile, rose from 46 to 57, military spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told a news conference.

India announced “Operation Sindoor” late Tuesday night, saying it struck “terrorist infrastructure” at nine locations in Pakistan.

The escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors came in the wake of the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed.

India blamed Pakistan for the attack, claiming there were cross-border links. Pakistan denied involvement and called for a neutral probe.

Indian officials said New Delhi exercised its “right to respond and preempt as well as deter more such cross-border attacks.”

Pakistan said it shot down five Indian fighter aircraft and that it "reserves the right to respond."

India has yet to issue an official reaction to the Pakistani statement on downing of its aircraft.

- Islamabad ready for investigation

Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said it was ready for an independent investigation into alleged presence of "so-called terrorist camps" on its soil as claimed by India.

"We are ready for an independent investigation into this matter as well along with the Pahalgam incident. We appeal to the international community to investigate into the (reality of) 'so-called terrorist camps' (targeted by India)," Asif said in an interview with local broadcaster Geo News on Wednesday night.

Pakistan, he said, is within its right to respond after Indian military strikes, but "unlike India we will never target the civilians."