ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military on Tuesday confirmed that 11 service members and 40 civilians were martyred during the intense military confrontation with India, the deadliest escalation in recent years, as both sides sought to stabilise a fragile ceasefire.

In a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military condemned what it called India’s “unprovoked and reprehensible” missile and drone strikes on the night of May 6 and 7 targeting civilian areas across the Line of Control (LoC) and international border. Among the 40 civilians martyred during these attacks were seven women and 15 children. Another 121 were injured, including 10 women and 27 children, according to ISPR.

India carried out the strikes in the civilian areas on the pretext of a shooting in the Pahalgam area of India-held Kashmir that New Delhi attributed to terrorists allegedly based in Pakistan — a charge Islamabad strongly denies.

“While defending the motherland with exemplary valour, 11 personnel of the Pakistan armed forces embraced martyrdom and 78 others sustained injuries,” the statement said. The fallen included six Pakistan Army soldiers and five members of the Pakistan Air Force.

ISPR warns any attempt to challenge Pakistan’s sovereignty shall be met with a ‘decisive response’

The air force casualties occurred when an Indian missile struck Buleri Airbase near Jacobabad while ceasefire discussions were underway. The martyrs were identified as Squadron Leader Usman Yousuf, Chief Technician Aurangzeb, Senior Technician Najeeb, Corporal Technician Farooq and Senior Technician Mubashir.

Also, Naik Abdul Rehman, Lance Naik Dilawar Khan, Lance Naik Ikramullah, Naik Waqar Khalid, Sepoy Muhammad Adeel Akbar and Sepoy Nisar were among the army martyrs. “Their noble sacrifice is an enduring symbol of courage, devotion, and unwavering patriotism — etched forever in the nation’s memory,” the ISPR said.

The cross-border hostilities peaked on the intervening night of May 9 and 10, culminating in Pakistan’s launch of a counter-operation named Bunyanum Marsoos. Described by the military as a “textbook demonstration” of joint warfare capabilities, the operation targeted 26 Indian military installations, including airbases, missile depots, logistics hubs, and command centres across land, sea, air and cyber domains.

The ISPR emphasised that the response was “precise, proportionate, and remarkably restrained,” avoiding civilian areas and focusing strictly on military assets involved in the earlier attacks.

The confirmation of Pakistani casualties came a day after military operations heads from both sides held their first round of talks to reinforce the ceasefire agreement and reduce troop deployment along the international border.

“Let there be no ambiguity: any attempt to challenge Pakistan’s sovereignty or territorial integrity, ever again, shall be met with a swift, full-spectrum, and decisive response,” the military warned.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2025