In the aftermath of India’s high-impact counterstrike under Operation Sindoor, Pakistani forces resorted to heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border, killing three civilians, the Indian Army said on Wednesday.

The escalation follows India’s retaliatory action for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, most of them tourists. In an official statement, the Indian Army confirmed that Pakistan initiated "unprovoked and indiscriminate firing", resulting in civilian casualties. Indian forces are said to have responded “proportionately” and “very effectively”, using artillery to return fire. According to defence sources quoted by ANI, Pakistan suffered losses in the Indian response.

Earlier in the day, India had carried out a coordinated assault on nine terror hubs across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). As part of Operation Sindoor, Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force units targeted sites linked to terrorist outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen. These locations have been identified as launchpads and training bases for cross-border terrorism.

Among the sites hit were JeM’s stronghold in Bahawalpur, along with Muridke, Kotli, Muzaffarabad, and other known militant camps in Gulpur, Sawani, Bilal, Barnala, Sarjal, and Mehmoona. Sources have indicated that all targets were hit with precision, and no harm came to Indian pilots involved in the operation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was reportedly briefed and updated throughout the execution of the strikes. Officials have emphasized that the strikes were “measured and calibrated”, avoiding escalation by steering clear of civilian, economic, or military infrastructure.

While Pakistan has alleged civilian deaths from the strikes—claiming eight were killed—India strongly refuted this. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in a call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, clarified that only verified terror infrastructure was targeted and that care was taken to avoid civilian casualties. The Indian Embassy in Washington DC also issued a statement reinforcing this position.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the strikes as an “act of war”, warning that Islamabad would respond “appropriately” to what it views as a violation of sovereignty.