Lahore/Islamabad, May 10 — Pakistan's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday said that Islamabad is open to de-escalation, but only if India halts further military strikes, as both nations exchange retaliatory fire in an increasingly volatile standoff.
In an interview with Geo News, Dar emphasized that Pakistan's military actions are “defensive” and “proportionate” following Indian precision strikes on terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian operation was carried out in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which Indian authorities linked to cross-border elements.
He described Pakistan’s actions as the “minimum” required at this point and warned that more could follow if the situation continues to escalate.
Dar also criticized what he described as a “tamasha” (circus) by India over the past three days, asserting that Pakistan had no option but to respond, especially after the alleged attack on Nur Khan Air Base.
Echoing Dar’s stance, Pakistan's Information Minister Atta Tarar said that the possibility of de-escalation lies with India.
Meanwhile, tensions soared further as Islamabad accused India of targeting three Pakistani air bases with missiles and drones early Saturday. Pakistan retaliated with a fresh wave of drone attacks on 26 Indian locations spanning from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat, marking the second consecutive night of cross-border engagements.
India’s Ministry of Defence stated that all Pakistani attempts to target strategic infrastructure — including air bases and airports — were effectively thwarted.
In a press briefing from New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri condemned Pakistan's “provocative” and “escalatory” conduct, stating that Islamabad is targeting civilian infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
As both nations maintain heightened operational readiness, the international community watches closely, with hopes that diplomatic channels will open before the conflict spirals into a broader confrontation.