Despite the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, both countries continue to threaten each other. While promising to abide by the ceasefire on Tuesday, Pakistan said that if New Delhi launches “aggression” again in the future, Islamabad will not hesitate to respond. On the other hand, India has threatened that if terrorism is conducted from Pakistani soil, the country will be destroyed.
India and Pakistan became embroiled in conflict after 26 people were killed in an attack by gunmen in Pahalgam in Indian-controlled Kashmir. After four consecutive days of retaliatory attacks, the two countries agreed to a ceasefire on the evening of May 10. New Delhi alleges that Islamabad supported the Pahalgam attack. However, Pakistan has been denying this allegation.
Despite the ceasefire, the exchange of threats between the two countries has not stopped. In his address to the nation on Monday, Narendra Modi linked Pakistan with “terrorism.” He said if Pakistan’s support for terrorism does not stop, there will be an appropriate response again in the future. At that time, nuclear weapons will not be a consideration.
Then on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Islamabad strongly rejects Modi’s “provocative and inflammatory” remarks. Such statements could increase tensions amid efforts for regional peace and stability.
The statement mentioned that Pakistan is committed to the ceasefire agreement reached with India. It stated that Islamabad will take necessary steps to maintain regional stability and reduce tensions. However, if India launches any aggression in the future, it will be dealt with firmly.
Indian news agency PTI reports that India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a public speech for the second time after the ceasefire on Tuesday. Addressing members of the Air Force at Adampur Air Base in Punjab state of India that day, he said to Pakistan, “If terrorism is conducted from your soil, you will be destroyed.”
Modi also spoke about how India would respond if attacked again. He said, “We will not make any distinction between a government of a country sponsoring terrorism and those planning terrorism. We will enter their dens and strike in such a way that they won’t have any chance to survive.”
New Delhi Denies Trump’s ‘Threat’
The United States played a major role in mediating the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. US President Donald Trump himself first brought the news of the ceasefire on social media on Saturday evening. Later, in a post on the social media platform Truth Social on Monday, he said that a “potential nuclear war” between India and Pakistan was stopped because of him.
Trump also claimed that he had pressured both countries with trade to stop the conflict. He wrote on Truth Social, “I said, we want to trade a lot with you (India and Pakistan). So stop this (conflict). If you stop it, we will trade. And if you don’t stop it, we won’t trade at all.”
However, New Delhi has rejected any such threat from Trump. Citing sources, the Indian media outlet The Hindu reported that US Vice President JD Vance spoke with Narendra Modi on May 9. Additionally, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on May 8 and 10. However, trade was not discussed between them during this time.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump also spoke about India-Pakistan while attending the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Saudi Arabia. While giving his speech at the forum, he said to Marco Rubio, “I think they (India and Pakistan) are actually getting closer. Maybe we can bring them a little closer, Rubio.”
Casualties on Both Sides
Islamabad provided an account on Tuesday of how many people were killed in the retaliatory conflict between India and Pakistan. In a statement, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that a total of 51 Pakistanis were killed in India’s attack. 199 were injured. Among the dead, at least 11 were military personnel. And 78 were injured. The number of civilian deaths is 40. Among them are 7 women and 15 children.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari issued a statement on Tuesday paying respect to these individuals killed in Pakistan. Warning India, he said that India’s aggression has increased the strength of the Pakistani people and they have become more united. Pakistan’s military forces are always ready to respond to India’s hostility.
India conducted “Operation Sindoor” in Pakistan on the night of May 6 following the Pahalgam attack. Since then, amid ongoing retaliatory attacks, Pakistan’s operation in India on the morning of May 10 was named “Operation Bunyan-un-Marsus.” India has not released updated information on how many of their people were killed in these four days. According to information provided by the country’s government on May 10, 5 military personnel and 16 civilians were killed in Pakistan’s attack.
In such a situation, United Nations Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric has expressed hope that both countries will maintain the ceasefire. According to Pakistani media outlet Dawn, he said at a briefing at UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, “I think we are in a better position than before. I hope the ceasefire will continue.”
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