By Amjad Ali
Islamabad, May 11 (EFE).— Life in Pakistan is slowly returning to normal after a deadly four-day conflict with India in which the nuclear-armed neighbors launched drone and missile attacks against each other’s military targets.
The intense escalation, which pushed both nations to the brink of full-scale war, was halted by a “full and immediate” ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump. Despite the truce, both sides have accused each other of subsequent violations.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared a national “Youm-e-Tashakur,” or Thanksgiving Day, to express gratitude to “Almighty Allah for the success” of Pakistan’s military response, Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, to what it called Indian aggression.
“This day will be celebrated to offer thanksgiving to Allah Almighty, to pay tribute to the unparalleled bravery of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and to appreciate the courage and unity of the entire nation,” a statement from his office said on Sunday.
“Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos gave an effective and forceful response to the enemy’s aggression and Pakistan proved its superiority on every front. We are grateful to Allah Almighty for this success, who has made us victorious,” the statement quoted Sharif as saying.
The ceasefire came into effect on Saturday after four days of rapid cross-border attacks that left nearly 50 dead and more than 180 injured in Pakistan, according to initial reports.
Hundreds of civilians along the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-istered Kashmir were forced to flee due to heavy bombardment.
The conflict escalated sharply after India launched Operation Sindoor on Wednesday, claiming it had struck nine targets in Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir, targeting infrastructure linked to the alleged perpetrators of a recent attack that killed 26 Indian tourists.
Pakistan reported at least 33 deaths in Indian strikes across six locations, including mosques, religious seminaries, and residential areas, as well as from shelling along the LoC, the de facto border that divides Kashmir between the two nations.
In retaliation, Islamabad launched Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos on Saturday, firing missiles at multiple Indian military bases.
This followed claims that India had fired ballistic missiles at three Pakistani air bases the night before.
Pakistan also said it had downed five Indian warplanes, including three Rafale fighter jets, though India has not confirmed any aircraft losses.
Additionally, Pakistani military sources claimed to have intercepted and destroyed 77 Israeli-made drones that had entered its airspace, marking the first time both countries engaged in large-scale drone warfare.
The ceasefire agreement, mediated by the United States, is expected to hold until at least noon Monday, when senior military officials from both sides are scheduled to hold further talks, a Pakistani military official told EFE on condition of anonymity.
Muhammed Amir, spokesperson for Kashmir’s disaster management authority, told EFE on Sunday that no ceasefire violations had been reported along the LoC since 11 p.m. the previous night. EFE
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