Britons have been warned not to travel to parts of India and Pakistan following a deadly escalation in conflict between the two nations.
The Indian Ministry of Defence said it struck nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, while retaliatory artillery fire was also reported.
Pakistan claimed it shot down several Indian fighter jets in retaliation as two planes fell onto villages in India-controlled Kashmir. At least seven civilians were also killed in the region by Pakistani shelling, Indian police and medics said.
Tensions have soared between the nuclear-armed neighbours since the attack, which India has blamed Pakistan for backing. Islamabad has denied the accusation.
The missiles hit six locations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and in the country's eastern Punjab province, killing at least 26 people, including women and children, said Pakistan's military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif.
Officials said another 38 people were injured by the strikes, and another five people were killed in Pakistan during exchanges of fire across the border later in the day.
Meanwhile, India said it hit infrastructure used by militants linked to last month’s massacre of tourists in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir.
The Foreign Office has warned anyone in the region against travelling within 10 kilometres of the India-Pakistan border.
It also warned people to stay at least 10 miles away from the Line of Control (the de facto border that divides disputed Kashmir between the two countries) and the Balochistan province of Pakistan.
A statement said: “On the night of 6 May (UK Time), the Indian Ministry of Defence stated it had struck nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
“In response, there are reports of Pakistani artillery fire across the Line of Control.
“On the night of 6 May (UK Time) Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority indicated that it was closing Pakistan airspace for at least 48 hours. There are reports of flights being diverted. British nationals should contact their airline for up-to-date information.
“We are continuing to monitor the situation closely. British nationals should stay up to date with our travel advice and follow the advice of local authorities.”
Several Asian airlines said on Wednesday they were re-routing or cancelling flights to and from Europe because of fighting between India and Pakistan.
More than two dozen commercial flights were diverted to avoid Pakistan's airspace. By Wednesday morning local time, airlines had cancelled 52 flights to or from Pakistan, according to FlightRadar24.
A handful of flights travelling from India to London Heathrow were delayed on Wednesday.
Some flights from India to Europe were also seen taking longer routes. Lufthansa flight LH761 from Delhi to Frankfurt turned right towards the Arabian Sea near the western Indian city of Surat, taking a longer path compared to Tuesday.
Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds described the situation in Kashmir as “hugely worrying” and said that the UK is ready to “support” both India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions between the nations.
He told the BBC’s Today programme: “Our message would be that we are a friend, a partner to both countries. We stand ready to support both countries.
“Both have a huge interest in regional stability, in dialogue, in de-escalation and anything we can do to support that, we are here and willing to do.”
Mr Reynolds also told Sky News that the Foreign Secretary has “reached out” to his counterparts in India and Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Wednesday’s airstrikes and said the “deceitful enemy has carried out cowardly attacks” and that his country would retaliate.
“Pakistan has every right to give a robust response to this act of war imposed by India, and a strong response is indeed being given,” Mr Sharif said.
Mr Sharif has convened a meeting of the National Security Committee for Wednesday morning.
United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement late on Tuesday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for maximum military restraint from both countries.
“The world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan,” the statement read.
Indian politicians from different political parties lauded the strikes. "Victory to Mother India," India's defence minister, Rajnath Singh, wrote on X.
India's main opposition Congress party called for national unity and said it was "extremely proud" of the country's army. "We applaud their resolute resolve and courage," Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge said.
India's army said the operation was named "Sindoor," a Hindi word for the bright red vermillion powder worn by married Hindu women on their forehead and hair, referring to the wives who saw their husbands killed in front of them
