Civilians killed as Pakistan and India trade strikes over Kashmir

Pakistan and India have traded strikes amid an escalating conflict over Kashmir – with both sides reporting civilian casualties.

Pakistan fired high-speed missiles at "multiple targets" across India early on Saturday morning, after accusing Delhi of targeting three airbases inside Pakistan. India-Pakistan live: Latest updates after cross-border firing India retaliated by launching airstrikes on its neighbour's military bases, in what it called a "measured" response.

Pakistan's military said it used medium-range Fateh missiles to strike more than 25 military sites, including airbases and weapons depots in the Indian states of Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan, as well as locations in India-administered Kashmir. At a news briefing in New Delhi, a spokesperson for India's foreign ministry later claimed Pakistan also targeted health facilities and schools at air bases.

Pakistan's military posted footage on X showing missiles being fired from what appeared to be a mobile launcher. The AP news agency said loud explosions were heard in India-administered Kashmir, in the disputed region's two big cities of Srinagar and Jammu, and the garrison town of Udhampur.

Five people were killed in the Jammu region, Indian police told the Reuters news agency. India said it had "responded proportionately" by targeting Pakistani military bases.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said Indian armed forces had carried out "precision strikes only at identified military targets in response to Pakistani actions". At around 9am UK time, the Disaster Management Authority in Pakistan-administered Kashmir said 13 civilians had been killed, and over 50 injured, in the past 12 hours in the region.

Read more:The story of India and Pakistan's deadly conflictHow the two countries' militaries match up India and Pakistan hint at de-escalation Both sides have claimed they will not escalate hostilities if the other reciprocates. The Pakistan Armed Forces (PAF) posted a message on X in what appeared to represent an opportunity to de-escalate the situation.

"Now that a response has been given we hope the neighbour [India] will move to dialogue and diplomacy like civilised nations," it said. At a press briefing from India's foreign ministry, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said India "reiterates its commitment to non-escalation provided it is reciprocated by the Pakistan military".

"Indian armed forces remain in a high state of operational readiness," she added. Around an hour later, Indian channel CNN-News18 reported the first phone call between India and Pakistan was taking place.

The military action marks the latest escalation in a conflict between the two nuclear-armed rivals, triggered by a deadly attack last month in India-administered Kashmir. Most of the 26 civilians killed were Hindu Indian tourists.

India blames Pakistan for backing the deadly assault, an accusation Islamabad rejects. US offers to broker talks US secretary of state Marco Rubio spoke to Pakistan's army chief general Asim Munir on Friday to "urge both parties to find ways to de-escalate" and offer "US assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts".

In recent days, both countries have launched a series of missile and drone strikes, although the scale and impact have been consistently questioned by each side. On Wednesday, India conducted airstrikes on several sites in Pakistani territory.

Pakistan said it shot down five Indian fighter jets. On Thursday, India claimed to have repelled drone and missile attacks at military targets in more than a dozen cities and towns, including Jammu in India-administered Kashmir.

Meanwhile, India claimed it struck Pakistan's air defence systems and radars close to the city of Lahore. The Indian army said on Friday that Pakistan fired about 300 to 400 drones, targeting military installations along the western borders - a claim strongly denied by Pakistan.

The G7 group of advanced economies, which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and Britain, urged maximum restraint from both India and Pakistan. "We call for immediate de-escalation and encourage both countries to engage in direct dialogue towards a peaceful outcome," a statement issued on Friday said..