Rawalpindi, May 13 — At least 51 people, including 40 civilians and 11 Pakistani military personnel, were martyred in a series of unprovoked cross-border attacks by Indian forces on the night of May 6 and 7, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a strongly worded statement on Tuesday.
According to ISPR, Indian forces launched a deliberate and targeted assault on residential areas across Azad Jammu and Kashmir and nearby Pakistani territory. The military’s media wing described the assault as “reprehensible and barbaric,” highlighting that Indian troops had struck civilian populations, including women, children, and the elderly.
“These barbaric strikes resulted in the martyrdom of 40 civilians — among them 7 women and 15 children,” the ISPR said. An additional 121 people sustained injuries, including 10 women and 27 children, many of whom are in critical condition.
In addition to the civilian toll, the Pakistan Armed Forces lost 11 valiant personnel who were defending the region during the escalation. Seventy-eight soldiers were also wounded in the exchange.
The ISPR released the names of the fallen military personnel, who hailed from both air and ground units. The martyrs include:
Naik Abdul Rehman
Lance Naik Dilawar Khan
Lance Naik Ikramullah
Naik Waqar Khalid
Sepoy Muhammad Adeel Akbar
Sepoy Nisar
Squadron Leader Usman Yousuf
Chief Technician Aurangzeb
Senior Technician Najeeb
Corporal Technician Farooq
Senior Technician Mubashir
“These brave sons of the soil made the ultimate sacrifice. Their noble sacrifice is an enduring symbol of courage, devotion, and unwavering patriotism — etched forever in the nation’s memory,” the statement added.
Pakistan’s military emphasized that its forces responded with “precision and restraint,” delivering “measured retaliation” to the Indian aggression, while avoiding civilian harm on the other side.
The ISPR also reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to peace but warned that any attempt to violate its sovereignty would be met with “a swift, full-spectrum, and decisive response, Inshallah.”
In a gesture of solidarity, the armed forces and the Pakistani nation paid tribute to the martyred civilians and military personnel, while expressing prayers for the swift recovery of the injured.
Amidst mounting international pressure, both nations agreed to a ceasefire on May 10 after a five-day period of escalated hostilities. The agreement was brokered by the United States and followed high-level contact between senior military officials.
Major General Kashif Abdullah, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) for Pakistan, and his Indian counterpart, Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, held a conversation via a military hotline to formalize the ceasefire.
Though the ceasefire holds for now, analysts warn that the situation remains fragile. Tensions continue to simmer along the Line of Control (LoC), and the recent violence has left deep scars in the affected communities.
International observers have called for restraint from both sides and urged a peaceful resolution to longstanding disputes in the region.
