Special Correspondent
Islamabad: Following back-to-back Indian airstrikes under Operation Sindoor that targeted multiple terrorist camps in Pakistan, Islamabad has adopted a softer diplomatic stance. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated in an interview with Geo News that if India halts its aggressive actions, Pakistan is ready to de-escalate in response.
“India should stop its attacks. We are not in favour of war. Unnecessary destruction and economic loss are not in anyone’s interest. If India stops, we will stop too,” said Dar. He also urged that India should cease the operations under its National Command Authority (NCA), emphasizing that Pakistan’s actions so far have been purely in self-defence. “If India de-escalates, the situation can stabilize. Pakistan will not carry out further attacks in such a case.”
His statement comes in the aftermath of Pakistan’s attempted drone and missile attacks on Indian regions including Udhampur, Pathankot, Samba, Jammu, and Nagrota, to which India responded decisively by targeting Pakistani air bases and weapons depots on May 9 and 10. These retaliatory strikes have reportedly instilled a sense of fear and urgency within Pakistan’s defence establishment.
Reports had earlier suggested that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had convened a meeting of Pakistan’s National Command Authority (NCA), the country’s apex nuclear and strategic planning body. However, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif later dismissed these reports, clarifying that no such meeting has been scheduled and that Pakistan is not considering any extreme military measures at present.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, addressing the media, reaffirmed that India has strictly targeted terrorist infrastructure and avoided any civilian or conventional military targets. “If Pakistan continues with provocations, India will respond again,” Misri warned.
Meanwhile, the United States and G7 nations have expressed support for India’s right to self-defence and urged both sides to maintain dialogue and prevent further escalation.
