Lahore/Islamabad: Pakistan’s foreign minister said Saturday his country would consider de-escalation if India stopped further attacks. This came after India said it was committed to non-escalation if Pakistan reciprocated.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, at a news conference in New Delhi, said India was committed to “non-escalation” provided that Pakistan reciprocates. However, Pakistani ground forces were observed mobilizing toward forward areas, she said, “indicating an offensive intent to further escalate the situation.”
“Pakistan will consider de-escalation if India stops further attacks. However, if India launches any further strikes, our response will follow,” Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told Geo News after he spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Dar’s statement, echoed by Information Minister Atta Tarar, came as the Indian and Pakistani militaries targeted each other’s installations using missiles in the last more than 12 hours, further escalating the already tense conflict situation.
In the conversation with Dar, Rubio “reiterated that both parties must find ways to de-escalate the current situation and re-establish direct communication to avoid miscalculation,” the State Department said in a statement early Saturday.
Rubio, who also spoke to Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, “offered US assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts.”
Pakistan had no choice, so our civil military leadership made the decision following the attack on Nur Khan Air Base. No more patience. We are just giving them a response,” Dar said.
” The action that the Pakistan civil military leadership has taken is proportionate. Many more actions can be taken, and we are ready for that, but this is the minimum action being taken just now, which will be continued for a while,” he said.
“This operation that we started today will all end in some way. It all depends on what India wants,” he reiterated.
Tarar added that Pakistani troops are deployed at the borders in response to India’s action.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has met President Asif Ali Zardari and briefed him about India’s “aggression and (the) effective response being given to India by Pakistan form of Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos,” said a statement from the president’s office.
At around 4 am on Saturday, Pakistan military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry told a called press conference in Islamabad that Nur Khan (Chaklala, Rawalpindi), Murid (Chakwal) and Rafiqui (Shorkot in Jhang district) air bases of Pakistan Air Force were targeted. “But all assets of the Air Force remain safe,” he added.
India fired air-to-surface missiles with its jets, he claimed.
Minutes later, citing security officials, state-run PTV said that Pakistan has launched a retaliatory operation “Bunyan al-Marsous”, meaning “Iron Wall”. They claimed that the Pakistan military used medium-range Fateh-1 missiles in the attack.
The government officials claimed that Sheikh Zayed International Airport in Rahman Yar Kham, some 400kms from Lahore, was also targeted.
Tensions between the two neighbours soared significantly after the Indian armed forces on Wednesday conducted precision strikes targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that had cross-border linkages.
Saudi Arabia early Saturday said it was making efforts to de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan, end current military confrontations, and promote the resolution of all disputes through dialogue and diplomatic channels.
China also “strongly” urged India and Pakistan to exercise calm and restraint and return to the track of peaceful settlement.(PTI)
