Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared victory in the conflict with India, stating that Pakistani armed forces had destroyed Indian military and air bases and shot down Rafale fighter jets.
Speaking on Saturday, he emphasised that the army had defended the nation after attacks on civilians, accusing India of “unprovoked aggression.”
However, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar simultaneously claimed that there had been no violations of the US-brokered ceasefire, contradicting both Sharif’s statements and India’s accusations against Islamabad. These discrepancies underscore the fragility of the agreement and the continuing escalation in Kashmir, despite international efforts to stabilise the region.
The conflict erupted after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 tourists, followed by India’s Operation Sindhur, with strikes on the Pakistani air bases of Nur Khan and Mirid. Pakistan responded with Operation Banyan ul Marsus, launching missile strikes on Indian targets, including the Udhampur airbase.
Satellite images published by Reuters confirmed the destruction in Udhampur, although India is downplaying the damage. According to Geo TV, Pakistan claims to have shot down three Rafale, Su-30 and MiG-29 aircraft, as well as a Mirage-2000, which India denies, calling the claims propaganda.
India, in turn, accuses Pakistan of violating the ceasefire. First Deputy Foreign Minister Vikram Misri said that Pakistani forces had resumed shelling in the Punch and Rajouri areas, to which the Indian army responded with artillery fire.
According to The Times of India, civilians were killed in the attacks, as confirmed by footage of the destruction in Jammu circulating on social media. Pakistan rejects the accusations, claiming that India is provoking an escalation by violating the agreement.
