Pakistan Offers to De-escalate If India Halts Strikes, Says Pakistan Foreign Minister
After India’s precision strikes on Pakistani military targets, Islamabad signaled a softening of stance, saying it would “consider stopping” if India ended its offensive.
In a marked shift in tone, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Saturday that his country would “consider stopping here” if India halts its military operations. The statement followed a series of retaliatory airstrikes by India on key Pakistani military assets in response to Islamabad’s large-scale offensive targeting Indian military and civilian sites.
Sources confirmed that backchannel communication had been initiated between the two countries, with Pakistan eager to contain the situation due to its deteriorating internal conditions.
In the early hours of Saturday, the Indian Air Force launched “Operation Sindoor,” a calibrated and precise counterstrike campaign. The operation targeted multiple Pakistani military installations including airbases in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, and Rahim Yar Khan. Additional strikes hit Sukkur, Chunia, Pasrur radar site, and the Sialkot aviation base.
A senior defence official stated, “All strikes were directed exclusively at military infrastructure. Civilian areas were avoided to prevent collateral damage.”
Foreign Minister Dar’s remarks were echoed by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who initially made hawkish statements but later said Pakistan was ready to “wrap up” the conflict if India stood down.
“This has been initiated by India. If they step back, we will definitely wrap up. But as long as we are under fire, we have to respond,” Asif said in a televised statement.
The Pakistani leadership had earlier claimed their military action was a response to India’s “aggression,” though evidence suggests Islamabad initiated the escalation by targeting 26 Indian military locations across four border states under “Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos.”
Indian armed forces remained on high alert throughout Saturday, responding swiftly to the missile and drone attacks. Notably, a Fatah-II ballistic missile aimed at New Delhi was intercepted over Haryana’s Hisar district.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said, “India’s response was swift, targeted, and in line with national security protocols. All hostile actions have been neutralised without unnecessary civilian impact.”
The escalation began shortly after Pakistan secured a $1 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a move India had opposed. Sources allege Islamabad delayed its military operations until after the deal’s approval to avoid jeopardising the funds.
