India launches missile strikes on Pakistan

India fired missiles on at least three areas under Pakistani control early Wednesday, local time, after weeks of tension between the neighboring countries. The attacks killed at least one child and injured two adults when a missile hit a mosque, Pakistan officials told the Associated Press. The missiles hit sites in Pakistan's northeastern Punjab region and in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

Why did India launch the attack? India’s ministry of defense confirmed launching attacks on what it characterized as terrorist infrastructure from which attacks against India were being planned. It denied targeting Pakistan’s military. India’s defense ministry went on to describe the measure as retaliatory for a terror attack in India-controlled Kashmir in late April. A Pakistani-based group known as The Resistance Front opened fire and killed 26 people in southern Kashmir. India accused Pakistani officials of supporting terrorism, while Pakistani officials denied any affiliation with the group. Tensions between the nuclear neighbors have since run hot.

Dig deeper: Read Elizabeth Russell’s report for background on mounting tensions between the countries.