India, Pakistan consider de-escalation if reciprocal as conflict escalates

CAIRO – 10 May 2025: India and Pakistan signaled a potential de-escalation of their ongoing conflict on Saturday, following missile exchanges earlier in the day, according to the Associated Press.

Several civilians of both nations have been killed and many more were injured in exchanged attacks in Kashmir, according to local official figures. Kashmir is divided between the two nations but claimed in full by both.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that his country will consider reducing tensions if India refrains from further attacks, warning that any Indian strikes will provoke a response.

He emphasized that Pakistan's patience had been tested, but if India halts its actions, Pakistan will also consider doing the same.

Earlier, India reported targeting Pakistani air bases in response to missile strikes launched by Islamabad against military and civilian sites in Punjab.

Pakistan claimed to have intercepted most of the missiles and initiated retaliatory strikes.

At a news conference in New Delhi, Indian Colonel Sofiya Qureshi asserted that Pakistan targeted health facilities and schools at its air bases in Kashmir.

She noted that India had delivered a "befitting reply" to these provocations.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh reiterated India's commitment to "non-escalation," provided Pakistan reciprocated.

However, she observed increased mobilization of Pakistani ground forces, suggesting a potential escalation.

Singh maintained that Indian forces conducted "precision strikes" on identified military targets, including command centers and missile storage facilities, to minimize collateral damage.

Meanwhile, Pakistan announced on Friday that it had downed 77 Israeli-made attack drones purportedly launched by India.

Tensions have escalated dramatically between the nuclear-armed neighbors since Wednesday.

On that day, India launched deadly strikes against infrastructure in Pakistan that New Delhi claimed was linked to a massacre of 26 people, most of them Indian tourists, in Kashmir last month.

India blames the massacre on Pakistan.