Pakistan says it downed 5 Indian aircraft, stresses right 'to avenge'

ISLAMABAD -- After India launched attacks on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir early Wednesday morning, Islamabad said that its forces shot down Indian fighter jets and destroyed multiple Indian security force checkpoints along the Line of Control, the de facto border between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

Pakistan's government, after holding its National Security Committee, issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon, saying that its forces brought down "five Indian fighter aircrafts and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the process." It also stated that the country "reserves the right to respond, in self-defence, at a time, place, and manner of its choosing to avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives and blatant violation of its sovereignty."