Three Indian fighter jets reportedly crashed in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, hours after India launched air strikes on nine alleged terrorist sites in Pakistan, according to four local government sources.

While the Indian government has yet to confirm the cause of the crashes, it remains unclear whether they resulted from operational issues or were linked to a reported Pakistani retaliation.

A spokesperson for Pakistan’s military claimed its forces shot down five Indian aircraft in response to the strikes, though Indian officials have not corroborated this assertion.

The incidents mark a sharp rise in hostilities between the nuclear-armed neighbours, with concerns mounting over potential escalation in the disputed Kashmir region. International observers are now watching closely as both nations prepare official diplomatic responses.