Rising tensions between nuclear neighbours amid deadly border clashes

Last week's deadly clashes between Pakistan and India left at least 51 people dead, according to Pakistani officials, as tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations surged dangerously close to full-scale war. A four-day exchange of missile, drone, and artillery fire only ended when U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Washington had brokered a ceasefire.

Pakistan's military reported that India’s “unprovoked and shameful attacks” claimed the lives of 40 Pakistani civilians, including women and children. Additionally, 11 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 78 injured in the fighting.

The military warned that any future threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty or territorial integrity would be met with a swift and forceful response. The previous official count from Pakistan cited 33 civilian deaths and no military casualties.

India, for its part, stated that 15 civilians and five soldiers had died during the hostilities.

Despite initial blame from both sides for violating the ceasefire, the truce appeared to hold as of Tuesday. President Trump claimed U.S. intervention had averted a potential nuclear catastrophe, stating, “Millions could have died. I’m very proud we stopped a nuclear conflict.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a televised speech, accused Pakistan of choosing violence over cooperation against terrorism. He warned of a firm response to any future terrorist attacks against India. Modi later shared on social media that he had met with troops involved in the recent operations, praising their bravery and sacrifice.

The renewed hostilities followed a deadly assault on April 22 in Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 tourists were killed. India blamed Pakistan for supporting the attackers, a claim Islamabad denied.

The conflict began early Wednesday when India launched missile strikes targeting what it called terrorist camps in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Both countries traded accusations of further air, drone, and artillery attacks, leading to the deaths of over 60 people across both sides.

Modi declared that Pakistan must dismantle its terrorist infrastructure if it wishes to avoid further escalation. He emphasized that India would act decisively against groups that threaten its security, rejecting the idea of peace talks or trade while terrorism continues.

The latest violence marked the most intense escalation between the two nations since their 1999 conflict, raising international concerns of another war. Pakistan’s military confirmed that one of the highest-ranking casualties was an air force squadron leader. Islamabad also claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft, though neither country has acknowledged losing any planes.