In response to Indian airstrikes on civilian areas, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down at least five Indian jets on Wednesday night, with a key check post destroyed, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). During a press conference, ISPR Director General Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif confirmed the retaliation, stating that India targeted six civilian locations, leading to the deaths of 26 people—including two young girls and seven women—and injuries to at least 46 others. The escalation follows India’s launch of “Operation Sindoor,” a series of late-night airstrikes on Pakistani cities, intensifying military tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.