Pakistan’s military has updated the death toll from last week’s intense cross-border clashes with India, confirming 51 Pakistanis killed, including 40 civilians and 11 armed forces personnel in the most severe confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades.

The violence, centered along the Line of Control (LoC) in disputed Kashmir, has heightened fears of escalation in the volatile region.

In a statement on Tuesday, Pakistan’s army condemned India’s “unprovoked and reprehensible dastardly attacks,” reporting that seven women and 15 children were among the civilian casualties, with 78 soldiers wounded. The military warned, “Any attempt to challenge Pakistan’s sovereignty or territorial integrity shall be met with a swift, full-spectrum, and decisive response.” The updated figures, which revise earlier reports of 33 civilian deaths with no military losses, underscore the scale of the four-day conflict.

India reported 15 civilian deaths and five soldiers killed in the hostilities, which erupted following a deadly April 22 terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 civilians. India blamed Pakistan-based groups for the attack, a claim Islamabad firmly denied, sparking tit-for-tat air and artillery strikes across the LoC.

A fragile ceasefire, brokered by the United States, took effect on Saturday, halting the violence. US President Donald Trump claimed credit for averting a larger crisis, stating on Monday, “We stopped a nuclear conflict… millions of people could have been killed. So I’m very proud of that.” As of Tuesday, the ceasefire appeared to hold, with no new reports of fighting.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation on Monday, accused Pakistan of fueling terrorism and warned, “If another terrorist attack against India is carried out, a strong response will be given.” On Tuesday, Modi posted on X, praising Indian troops involved in the conflict: “India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation.”

The clashes, triggered by the April 22 attack in a tourist area of Indian-administered Kashmir, represent the most significant India-Pakistan confrontation since the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. Kashmir, claimed in full by both nations but divided by the LoC, has been a flashpoint for three wars since the 1947 partition. The nuclear capabilities of both countries amplify global concerns over any direct conflict.

While the US and other international mediators have urged restraint, the ceasefire’s fragility, coupled with ongoing tensions and fiery rhetoric from both sides, keeps the region on edge. Observers hope the truce will lead to broader dialogue but warn that unresolved disputes over Kashmir could reignite hostilities. (ILKHA)