NEW DELHI: India said its forces launched “Operation Sindoor” post-midnight, “hitting terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir “from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed”.

In a statement, the Indian government said “nine sites have been targeted”. “Air strikes” were carried out in three regions of Pakistan, the Pakistani army announced, citing two towns in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and a third in Punjab, bordering India. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called India’s attack a cowardly action and said the nation would retaliate. “Pakistan has a full right now to respond in a befitting manner to the conflict imposed on us,” Sharif said in a statement. “The enemy won’t be allowed to achieve its goals.”