Islamabad – In a potentially significant shift, Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, has publicly stated that his nation is prepared to “wrap up” the current heightened tensions with India, contingent upon New Delhi taking steps to de-escalate the prevailing situation. The minister’s comments, broadcasted via Bloomberg Television, came within hours of India’s military action targeting alleged terror sites within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Asif’s declaration underscored a conditional willingness to reduce hostilities, emphasizing that Pakistan’s actions would remain reactive. “We have been saying all along in the last fortnight that we’ll never initiate anything hostile towards India. But if we’re attacked, we’ll respond,” he asserted. The statement reiterated Pakistan’s position that it would not be the instigator of any conflict, but would defend itself if provoked.
The remarks follow India’s deployment of missile strikes early Wednesday, targeting nine locations believed to be harboring terrorist elements. This military action was reportedly in direct response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack, which had further strained the already delicate relationship between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
While indicating a potential path towards de-escalation, Defence Minister Asif also conveyed that he possessed no knowledge of any imminent or planned bilateral talks between Pakistan and India. The absence of confirmed dialogue prospects leaves the trajectory of future relations uncertain, despite the offer of a conditional cessation of hostilities.
Read More: Mizoram: Aizawl Simulates Air Raid in Nationwide Civil Defence Drill