India claimed on Sunday that its recent military operations inside Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and other parts of Pakistan killed more than 100 militants, including senior leaders, according to a top military official.
Lt. Gen. Rajiv Ghai, India’s director general of military operations, stated that Indian forces targeted nine militant camps and training centers, including those linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a group India holds responsible for numerous attacks within its territory and in Kashmir.
“We caught them completely off guard,” Ghai said at a press briefing in New Delhi, describing Pakistan’s reaction as disorganized and panicked.
The strikes took place amidst a major military standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, which agreed to a ceasefire just a day earlier following deadly exchanges of artillery, missiles, drones, and small arms fire that left many dead.
Under the ceasefire terms, both sides pledged to halt all military activities on land, sea, and in the air immediately.
Conflicting Casualty Figures
Tensions escalated after a gun attack on tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22, which India blamed on Pakistan—an accusation Pakistan rejected.
According to Ghai, at least 35 to 40 Pakistani troops were killed in battles along the Line of Control (LoC), while five Indian soldiers also died. However, Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed their forces had killed 40 to 50 Indian soldiers in similar clashes.
Indian Air Marshal A.K. Bharti reported that India neutralized multiple drone incursions from Pakistan and launched further airstrikes on Pakistani air bases, calling them “decisive and transformative.” He declined to confirm Pakistan’s claims of shooting down five Indian jets but acknowledged that losses are expected in active combat and said Indian forces also downed several enemy aircraft, though he provided no evidence.
The Associated Press noted that it could not independently verify either country’s military claims.
Despite the ceasefire, violence resumed within hours, with renewed fighting and drone sightings in Kashmir and parts of India. Residents on both sides of the LoC described heavy bombardment. By Sunday, hostilities had quieted, but fear remained.
Sosan Zehra, a student from Indian-controlled Kashmir’s Poonch region, said, “It was chaos—people were running as shells exploded.” In Neelum Valley, on the Pakistan side, Mohammad Zahid expressed disappointment, saying, “We were hopeful after the ceasefire, but now we’re uncertain again.”
Diplomatic and International Reactions
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire via his Truth Social platform, with both Indian and Pakistani officials later confirming the deal. Pakistan has publicly thanked the U.S., and Trump specifically, for helping mediate the truce. India, meanwhile, has remained silent on the U.S. role.
India and Pakistan trade accusations of ceasefire breaches after agreement
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a high-level meeting on Sunday to assess the situation. Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the ceasefire, expressing hope that it could pave the way for long-term peace and resolution of core issues.
Senior military officials from both countries are expected to hold direct talks on Monday.
India and Pakistan have been engaged in daily hostilities since Wednesday along the LoC, which cuts through mountainous terrain dotted with villages and military installations. Both sides accuse the other of initiating attacks, while claiming their actions are purely defensive.
Kashmir remains a flashpoint between the two countries, both of which claim the region in full. The dispute has sparked two of their three wars and continues to define their deeply fraught relationship.