India calls for de-escalation after suffering heavy damage in Pakistani strikes

Indian military confirms attack at 26 defence sites, urges restraint amid regional crisis

NEW DELHI (MNTV) – India has signaled a desire to avoid further military escalation with Pakistan following confirmation that 26 of its strategic defence installations and air bases were hit in retaliatory strikes by Pakistan’s military.

“We do not seek further escalation with the Pakistan Army or Air Force,” Indian Army Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh told reporters during a joint press conference in New Delhi alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

Senior Indian military officials acknowledged in a press conference early Saturday that Pakistan used high-speed missiles, long-range drones, and fighter jets in coordinated strikes.

The attacks caused “structural and operational damage” to multiple Indian airbases, including key sites in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

The officials confirmed significant damage at five major airbases—Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, Bhuj, and Bathinda—as part of what Indian intelligence described as one of the most comprehensive air campaigns launched by Pakistan in recent memory.

While refraining from disclosing specific casualty figures, they admitted that both personnel and assets had been impacted.

The press conference followed Pakistan’s launch of “Operation Bunyan Ul Marsoos,” a large-scale retaliatory operation in response to Indian missile strikes earlier this week on Pakistan and on Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Those initial strikes, dubbed “Operation Sindoor” by India, were reportedly aimed at what New Delhi termed “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan.

India’s shift in tone toward de-escalation appears to align with growing international calls for restraint.

The Group of Seven (G7) nations, along with China, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, have urged both sides to exercise caution and resume diplomatic channels to prevent the situation from spiraling into full-scale war.

Tensions have flared dangerously since the initial Indian strikes on May 7.

Since then, both sides have exchanged missile and drone attacks, resulting in dozens of civilian and military casualties.

Pakistani authorities report that at least 13 civilians were killed in Pakistani-administered Kashmir in the past 24 hours, with over 50 injured.

Pakistan’s military maintains that its operations were conducted in self-defense and targeted only military infrastructure.

“Pakistan does not want war, but if it is imposed upon us, we are prepared to defend every inch of our land,” the Director General of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations said in a separate statement.

Indian analysts say the latest admission from New Delhi may mark a notable shift from its earlier aggressive posture.

Observers noted the visibly tense expressions of the Indian officials during the briefing, with some interpreting the call for restraint as a recognition of the effectiveness of Pakistan’s response.

The coming days will be critical as both sides weigh the costs of further escalation.

Diplomatic backchannels are reportedly being explored, though no official dialogue has been confirmed.