Pakistan 'sues for peace' after realising 'India meant business', no third-party mediation: Report

Pakistan “sued for peace” only after eight of its air bases were destroyed in precision Indian strikes, asserting that Islamabad realised New Delhi “meant business,” a senior government source told PTI.

Government sources dismissed claims by US President Donald Trump that American mediation led to the de-escalation, saying Washington merely acknowledged the impact of India’s military response. They noted that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had called External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to convey that Pakistan had “got the message” after being “hammered” by Indian missiles.

“There was no need for third-party intervention,” a source said, adding that Trump’s remarks were “characteristic hyperbole.”

The sources cited above said the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan reached the understanding and no third party was involved.

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Following India’s strikes on nine terror infrastructures early on May 7, Pakistan attempted to attack several Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10.

The Pakistani actions on the intervening night of May 9 and 10 was the most severe, following which India struck eight key Pakistani military installations, inflicting heavy damages.

The sources said following India’s attacks on the Pakistani installations, Pakistan pleaded for cessation of hostilities and its DGMO called his Indian counterpart.

The understanding on halting military actions was firmed up by the two DGMOs, the sources said, dismissing Washington’s claims of brokering the ”ceasefire”.

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Around two hours after the conversation between the two DGMOs, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Saturday evening announced that India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect.

”We have maintained from the start the only talking which will be done between India and Pakistan will be between the DGMOs and directly,” said a source.

The sources also downplayed comments by the US administration about mediation on the Kashmir issue and talks between India and Pakistan at a ”neutral site”.

”We do not have anything to discuss with Islamabad on the Kashmir issue, other than the return of parts of illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan,” said a source.

”There is nothing else to discuss. They have to hand over the illegally occupied territory and they can do it directly. We don’t need anybody in between,” it said, rejecting involvement of any third party on the issue.

With inputs from agencies