UPDATE - Soldier killed in Pakistan shelling in Kashmir, Indian army says

UPDATES WITH INDIA'S CLOSING OF SOME AIRPORTS, ADDITIONS TO BODY, DECK CHANGED

By Anadolu staff
NEW DELHI (AA) - An Indian army soldier was killed in shelling by Pakistan's army in Jammu and Kashmir, according to an official statement.

Indian Army’s White Knight Corps, which confirmed the death of the soldier, said: “We also stand in solidarity with all victims of the targeted attacks on innocent civilians in Poonch Sector.”

The statement by the army comes amid the ongoing escalation between the two nuclear-armed nations after India launched overnight missile strikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, hitting what New Delhi said were nine "terrorist infrastructure” sites.

Separately, at least 21 airports in India, primarily in the north and northwest, have been closed to passenger flights until May 10, The Hindu daily reported, citing the Airports Authority of India.

The authority issued a notice to airmen, resulting in widespread flight cancellations by Indian airlines on domestic routes, as well as some international flights.

The affected airports are spread across Indian-administrated Kashmir, including Ladakh, as well as the states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

The Pakistani Army said in a statement that at least 31 people were killed and 57 others injured as a result of Indian strikes as well as cross-border firing, noting that the missiles targeted six locations.

At least 12 people were killed along the Line of Control (LoC) in Indian-administered Kashmir, according to officials.

The rival militaries have exchanged fire along the LoC, which is the de facto India-Pakistan border, since 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 offered a neutral probe.