Tensions remain high in South Asia after a deadly gunfight in Indian-administered Kashmir on Tuesday resulted in the killing of three suspected militants by Indian security forces. The encounter was the first of its kind since a recent deadly attack on Hindu tourists pushed India and Pakistan to the brink of war.
According to the Indian Army, a special counter-insurgency unit launched a “search and destroy” operation in the Keller forest region of southern Kashmir, roughly 65 kilometers from Pahalgam—the site of last month’s deadly militant attack that claimed 26 lives, most of whom were Hindu pilgrims.
The army reported that the militants opened heavy fire, prompting a fierce gun battle that ended with the elimination of three “hardcore terrorists.”
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The incident comes on the heels of a major escalation between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan, which exchanged four days of missile, drone, artillery, and jet fighter attacks last week. The violence followed India’s accusation that Pakistan-backed militants were behind the Pahalgam massacre—an allegation Islamabad firmly denied.
In retaliation, India launched strikes on what it claimed were militant bases inside Pakistan, triggering a cycle of reprisals that raised fears of full-scale war. The conflict, described as the most serious military standoff since the Kargil War of 1999, claimed dozens of lives on both sides.
On Tuesday, Pakistan’s military released an updated death toll from the conflict, stating that 40 civilians—including seven women and 15 children—and 11 soldiers were killed during what it called India’s “unprovoked and reprehensible dastardly attacks.”
The army added that 78 military personnel were wounded. This marks a shift from the earlier official figure of 33 civilian casualties with no reported military losses. India, on its part, confirmed the deaths of 15 civilians and five soldiers during the cross-border hostilities.
Despite the heavy losses, a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States over the weekend appears to be holding. U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that Washington’s intervention prevented a potential nuclear catastrophe.
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“We stopped a nuclear conflict… millions of people could have been killed. So I’m very proud of that,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a firm stance during a televised address, accusing Pakistan of supporting terrorism rather than collaborating in its defeat. “If another terrorist attack against India is carried out, a strong response will be given,” he warned.
On Tuesday, Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter) about his visit to Indian military personnel involved in the recent conflict, calling it a “special experience.” “It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination, and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation,” he wrote.
As the ceasefire holds for now, the region remains on edge, with both nations monitoring the fragile peace amid ongoing tensions and unresolved grievances.
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