The flare-up in violence was the worst since the rivals’ last open conflict in 1999 and sparked global shudders that it could spiral into full-blown war.
The Pakistani military has said it downed five Indian jets, but has not admitted losing any aircraft of its own.
India has not disclosed losing any aircraft.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a televised address to the nation Monday that Pakistan has chosen to attack rather than help it fight “terrorism”.
“If another terrorist attack against India is carried out, a strong response will be given,” he said.
Modi wrote on X Tuesday that he had met with service members involved in the conflict.
“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 said.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it rejected Modi’s “provocative and inflammatory assertions” and his “propensity to fabricate misleading narratives to justify aggression”.
“Make no mistake, we will closely monitor India’s actions and behaviour in this regard in the coming days. We also urge the international community to do the same,” it added.
Militants have stepped up operations in the Indian side of Kashmir since 2019, when Modi’s Hindu nationalist government revoked the region’s limited autonomy and imposed direct rule from New Delhi.
A gunbattle at a forest around 65km from Pahalgam, the site of the Apr 22 attack on tourists, left three militants dead from the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based militant group, the Indian army said Wednesday.
“The three were actively involved in recent terror activities in the region,” it said in a post on X.
“Recoveries from the operation include AK series rifles, large quantity of ammunition, grenades and other” military materials, it said.
Muslim-majority Kashmir is claimed in full by both countries, which have fought several wars over the territory since their 1947 independence from British rule.
