Islamabad:
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday over Parliament’s top house that Pakistan did not request a ceasefire during recent escalation with India.
Instead, Dar said that [ceasefire] was initiated after a call from the US Secretary of State who communicated that India was willing to stop hostilities.
He spoke in the Senate session President Yousuf Raza Gilani and said the ceasefire came into force after Pakistan confirmed its readiness to stop military actions, with subsequent calls from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and China reinforce diplomatic efforts.
Dar emphasized that Pakistan had exercised restraint and conveyed this to all kind nations even before the outbreak of hostilities.
He said, “We told our friends that we would not start an attack, but we would certainly answer if they were provided.”
Dar reiterated that Pakistan’s response was measured, decisive and in line with international norms.
The Foreign Minister revealed that the recent conflict began after the Pahagam event, which India immediately accused Pakistan, despite having offered no concrete evidence -like the previous Pulwama event.
“We offered a transparent and neutral study of the Pahagam attack, but India refused,” Dar said, adding that Pakistan secured India’s narrative did not dominate the international discourse this time.
He said, on May 7, 70-80 Indian aircraft violated Pakistani airspace and released 24 payloads that hit civilian areas, including mosques. Pakistan reciprocated six Indian jets, including Rafale, without losing a single aircraft.
Dar declared that India was trying to stoke tension among the Sikh community by bombing their areas and false blaming Pakistan.
He said that Pakistan’s response included destroying 80 Indian drones, of which only damage to Pakistani forces had been inflicted.
He also said Pakistan had evidence that India launched attacks on several Pakistani military bases and civil infrastructure, but Pakistan refrained from targeting Indian civilian areas in return.
“We told the world that we will not hide our response and we did not,” he said, referring to the public release of videos showing Pakistan’s counter-attack.
Dar noted that the National Security Committee made quick decisions in response to Indian aggression, and Pakistan’s military performed these plans effectively.
He also approached the view of the International Society and said, “Pakistan is no longer diplomatically irrelevant; we have proven our strategic and diplomatic significance.”
Deputy Prime Minister said India used the Pahagam incident as a pretext to sabotage the Indus Waters Treaty and reiterate that this agreement cannot be unilaterally suspended or terminated, referring to the recent comments of the World Bank President Ajay Banga.
Dar praised Pakistan’s military, especially the air defense, for its performance and said that the loss of India in the conflict amounted to at least $ 3 billion. Pakistan, on the other hand, suffered civilian losses, primarily women, children and the elderly.
He also emphasized the need for internal political stability and national unity in the light of sustained external threats.
The government noted DAR, has announced a special compensation package for the martyrs and insured full state aid for their families.
He concluded that while Pakistan remains obliged to peace, it has shown that any act of aggression will be met with a fixed and proportionate response.
Opposition leader Senator Shibli Faraz repeated Dars’s emotions, praised Pakistan Air Force and called on the country to exploit this military success for diplomatic and strategic gains.
He said Pakistan has established his defense functions, especially by setting a new standard in air warfare. He emphasized that the entire nation is united to protect the geographical borders of the country and emphasized the importance of further building this success in all aspects.
