SOURCE: AFI
The escalating conflict between India and Pakistan has taken a deadly turn, with reports emerging of over 150 casualties inside Pakistan following India’s ‘Operation Sindoor,’ a series of missile strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure on May 7, 2025. However, Pakistan’s military, through its Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has significantly downgraded the toll, officially reporting 31 civilian deaths and 57 injuries across six locations struck by Indian forces. The discrepancy in casualty figures, combined with conflicting narratives, has intensified the ongoing crisis between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, raising fears of further escalation.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ in retaliation for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, in Indian-administered Kashmir. India’s Defence Ministry stated that the operation targeted nine sites—four in Pakistan’s Punjab province (Ahmedpur East, Muridke, Sialkot, Shakargarh) and five in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bagh)—aimed at eliminating infrastructure linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The strikes, involving 80-90 aircraft and advanced weaponry like the BrahMos air-launched missile and SCALP cruise missiles, were described as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” with no Pakistani military facilities targeted.
In contrast, Pakistan’s ISPR, led by Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, condemned the strikes as “unprovoked and cowardly,” alleging that India conducted 24 airstrikes across six civilian areas, including mosques and a hydroelectric dam. Initial Pakistani reports, cited by sources like The Express Tribune and Dawn, claimed eight deaths and 33 injuries, but a later ISPR briefing updated the toll to 31 martyrs and 57 injured, including children as young as three years old. Chaudhry detailed specific incidents: 13 deaths in Ahmedpur East, including two young girls; three fatalities at Muzaffarabad’s Bilal Mosque; and two deaths in Kotli’s Abbas Mosque.
Unverified reports circulating on social media and local Pakistani media initially suggested a far higher casualty count, exceeding 150, prompting speculation of a cover-up by Pakistani authorities. Posts on X, including one by @AaliyaShah1, referenced the official ISPR figures but noted the broader context of escalating violence, while others hinted at political pressure to downplay the toll to avoid domestic backlash. Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused India of targeting civilian sites, rejecting claims of terrorist infrastructure and labeling the strikes a “flagrant violation” of international law.
The discrepancy in casualty figures has fueled controversy. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing the nation, vowed retaliation “at a time, place, and manner of our choosing,” claiming that Pakistani forces shot down five Indian jets, including three Rafales, and forced India to “wave a white flag” at the Line of Control (LoC). Indian sources close to Air Force India (AFI) categorically denied pilot losses and dismissed Pakistan’s claims as propaganda, though they refrained from confirming the status of air assets. Reuters and CNN reported unconfirmed Indian losses, with two or three aircraft possibly crashing in Indian territory, but no official Indian statement has corroborated these claims.
The strikes have triggered heavy cross-border shelling along the LoC, exacerbating civilian suffering. Pakistan reported five additional deaths from artillery fire, while India claimed 15 civilian deaths and 57 injuries from Pakistani shelling in Indian-administered Kashmir. Residents like Safeer Abdullah from Poonch, Pakistan, described intense shelling, with homes destroyed and families living in fear. Indian authorities ordered evacuations in Jammu and Kashmir, establishing control rooms to monitor the crisis, while Pakistan closed schools in affected regions.
NOTE: AFI is a proud outsourced content creator partner of IDRW.ORG. All content created by AFI is the sole property of AFI and is protected by copyright. AFI takes copyright infringement seriously and will pursue all legal options available to protect its content.