India Acknowledges Losses in Pakistani Strikes, Signals Willingness to De-escalate
News Desk
New Delhi: In a rare admission, the Indian Army on Saturday confirmed suffering significant losses following a series of high-speed missile strikes by Pakistan targeting multiple military installations across the country.
At a press conference in New Delhi, Indian Army spokesperson Colonel Sofia Qureshi revealed that 26 installations, including strategic airbases in Pathankot, Udhampur, Bhuj, and Adam Port, were struck in what she described as a “coordinated and unprecedented assault” by Pakistan.
“These attacks caused substantial damage to military infrastructure and led to both human and material losses,” Qureshi stated. While the total number of casualties remains undisclosed, the army confirmed the death of senior administrative officer Raj Kumar Thapa in a strike on the Rajouri sector of Indian-administered Kashmir.
The spokesperson emphasized that India has “taken serious note” of the Pakistani strikes but maintained that New Delhi is not seeking to escalate the conflict. “India does not wish to prolong this confrontation. If Pakistan is prepared to de-escalate, we are ready to reciprocate,” she said.
This marks one of the few instances in recent history where the Indian military has publicly acknowledged the extent of damage inflicted by a Pakistani retaliatory operation. Observers believe the transparency may be aimed at gaining international support and opening the door for diplomatic de-escalation.
Pakistan has yet to issue an official statement, but military sources in Islamabad have described the strikes as a “measured and proportionate” response to earlier Indian provocations.
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors have escalated sharply in recent weeks, with repeated cross-border accusations and military engagements. Saturday’s developments, however, suggest a potential turning point, as India’s shift in tone hints at the possibility of diplomatic efforts behind the scenes.
While no formal announcement has been made regarding backchannel negotiations, heightened activity among foreign diplomatic missions in both capitals indicates growing international involvement in attempts to defuse the crisis.
