Pakistan has issued a warning to India, demanding an end to its military operations or risk further escalation following Indian airstrikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’ in response to the killing of tourists in Kashmir.
Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said Pakistan is “willing to wrap up these things” if India halts its actions, but cautioned, “If India attacks, we’ll respond.”
The ultimatum was delivered alongside a formal protest lodged with India’s Charge-d’Affaires in Islamabad, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to address the nation after an emergency meeting of top military and civilian officials.
Newsweek reached out to the Pakistani government for comment.
Why It Matters
Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors ratcheted up after gunmen massacred 26 people, mostly Indian tourists, in Indian-controlled Kashmir last month.
India responded by striking nine targets inside Pakistan, saying they were used to plan the attack. Pakistan has denied this, stating Indian strikes hit civilian areas and violated its sovereignty. With each side accusing the other of aggression and mobilizing their armed forces, the region faces its most volatile moment in years.
What to Know
In a televised interview with Bloomberg, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stressed that Pakistan does not seek to escalate the crisis but will defend itself if necessary. “We have been saying all along the last fortnight that we will never initiate anything hostile toward India. But if India attacks, we’ll respond,” Asif said. He called India’s strikes a violation of sovereignty but added, “If India backs down, we’ll definitely wrap up these things.” His remarks suggest Pakistan is leaving space for a diplomatic off-ramp—provided India ends its offensive.
India Targets Terror Camps
India launched airstrikes on Wednesday targeting alleged terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Strikes reportedly hit locations in Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Muzaffarabad. India claims the targets were involved in planning the April 22 Pahalgam bombing that killed more that 25 civilians.
Pakistan Responds
In response, Pakistani security officials said the country launched retaliatory strikes, though they did not provide further details. In a statement, Pakistan’s Prime Minister said that “Pakistan has every right to give a robust response to this act of war imposed by India, and a strong response is indeed being given.”
The U.S. State Department told Newsweek that it was monitoring an “evolving situation” and that there was no further assessment to offer at this time. The Pentagon told Newsweek it did not wish to comment further on the reports.
What People Are Saying
Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pakistan’s Defence Minister warned: “If India backs down, we’ll definitely wrap up these things… These are not hostile acts—we are just defending our territory.”
India’s Defense Ministry, in a statement: “Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistan military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.”
U.S. President Donald Trump, said in the Oval Office: “They have been fighting for many, many decades, and centuries if you really think about it. I just hope it ends very quickly.”
What Happens Next
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to deliver a national address outlining Pakistan’s response strategy. The situation remains volatile, with any further military action likely to trigger a wider crisis.
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