Pakistan relents? Pak minister says ready to 'de-escalate' if India doesn’t strike

Pakistan relents? Pak minister says ready to 'de-escalate' if India doesn’t strike

FP News Desk May 10, 2025, 13:40:43 IST

Pakistan has said it is open to de-escalation if India halts further retaliatory strikes. The statement came after India targeted multiple air bases across Pakistan in response to failed drone and missile attacks on more than a dozen cities along the border.

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Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the country would consider “de-escalation” if India refrains from carrying out further retaliatory strikes on Pakistan. This statement comes after India conducted strikes on multiple air bases in Pakistan.

At a press briefing on Saturday, the Indian government said it does not seek escalation but will respond to any provocation.

At a joint briefing with the Ministry of Defence and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said India has responded to all Pakistani military actions and that the armed forces are in a high state of operational readiness.

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“Pakistan military has been observed to be moving its troops into forward areas, indicating an offensive intent to further escalate the situation. Indian armed forces remain in a high state of operational readiness. All hostile actions have been effectively countered and responded to appropriately. Indian armed forces reiterate their commitment to non-escalation, provided it is reciprocated by the Pakistani military," the military representatives said at the briefing.

Pakistan targeted 26 locations in India with drones and missiles following India’s Operation Sindoor. Sources told News18 that Indian forces intercepted a missile in Haryana’s Sirsa and also struck airbases in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, and Shorkot.

India attacks Pak bases

India’s foreign and defence ministries have denied Pakistan’s claims of destroying Indian air bases and military sites. Earlier on Saturday, India carried out retaliatory strikes on Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and four Pakistani Air Force bases.

Pahalgam terror attack

India has accused Pakistan of being directly linked to the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed by Pakistan-based militants.

India’s Operation Sindoor

In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on 7 May, targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Indian Armed Forces conducted precision strikes on nine terror camps, including key locations in Bahawalpur and Muridke, strongholds of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

The operation used advanced military assets such as Rafale jets, BrahMos missiles, and loitering munitions.

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