On Tuesday, Pakistan’s army reported a revised death toll of 40 civilians and 11 military personnel who lost their lives in what has been described as the most severe clash with India in decades.
The two nuclear-armed nations participated in a series of reciprocal strikes over four days, a situation that appeared poised to escalate into full-scale conflict. However, a ceasefire was announced on Saturday by US President Donald Trump, who stated that Washington facilitated the agreement.
In a recent statement, Pakistan’s army reported that India’s actions, described as “unprovoked and reprehensible dastardly attacks,” resulted in the deaths of 40 civilians, among them seven women and 15 children.
“In a statement, it was reported that 11 members of the Pakistan Armed Forces lost their lives while valiantly defending the motherland, with an additional 78 sustaining injuries.”
“There should be no misunderstanding: any future efforts to undermine Pakistan’s sovereignty or territorial integrity will be met with a prompt, comprehensive, and resolute reaction,” it stated.
The official toll in Pakistan had previously reported 33 civilian casualties, with no military losses recorded.
India has reported that 15 civilians and five soldiers have lost their lives.
Amidst conflicting assertions regarding initial breaches, the ceasefire remained intact on Tuesday.
On Monday, Trump asserted that American intervention had averted a potential “bad nuclear war.”
Authorities successfully averted a potential nuclear conflict, a situation that could have resulted in the loss of millions of lives. “I take great pride in that,” he stated to reporters at the White House.
In a televised address to the nation on Monday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that Pakistan has opted for aggression instead of collaborating to combat “terrorism”.
“In the event of another terrorist attack against India, a robust response will be initiated,” he stated.
On Tuesday, a post from his account on X revealed that he had engaged with service members who are participating in the ongoing conflict.
“Being in the presence of individuals who embody courage, determination, and fearlessness was truly a remarkable experience.” “India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation,” he stated.
A recent escalation occurred after an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, resulting in the deaths of 26 individuals.
India has levelled accusations against Pakistan, alleging its support for the recent attack; however, Islamabad has firmly rejected these claims of involvement.
Locations associated with terrorist activities
Before dawn last Wednesday, hostilities erupted as India initiated missile strikes targeting what it described as “terrorist camps” located in the Pakistan-administered region of Kashmir.
Both sides have levelled accusations against one another, claiming responsibility for a series of warplane and drone strikes, alongside missile and artillery bombardments, resulting in the deaths of at least 60 individuals from each faction.
“For Pakistan to ensure its survival, it must dismantle its terror infrastructure,” Modi stated on Monday.
India is poised to respond with precision and decisiveness to the terrorist groups that are operating under the guise of nuclear blackmail.
India’s position is unequivocal. Terror and dialogue are fundamentally incompatible… The coexistence of terror and trade is fundamentally incompatible… Water and blood are incompatible in their flow.
The recent escalation in violence marks the most severe outbreak since the last open conflict between the rivals in 1999, raising international concerns about the potential for a full-scale war.
On Tuesday, Pakistan’s military released a statement identifying the highest-ranking service member killed in the recent conflict as an air force squadron leader.
The military claims to have shot down five Indian jets, yet it has not acknowledged any losses of its aircraft.
India has not reported any aircraft losses.
