‘If India backs down…’: Khawaja Asif says Pakistan ready to 'wrap' tensions after Operation Sindoor

Hours after India conducted military strikes on terror hotbeds in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Islamabad was ready to “wrap” the tensions between the two countries if “India backs down”.

Emphasising that his country won't hesitate to respond if India attacks, the Pakistani minister told Bloomberg Television, “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.”

“If India backs down, we will definitely wrap up this tension,” he said.

Operation Sindoor

Asif's statement comes after the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor, a joint military action targeting the terrorist infrastructure in nine locations of Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Operation Sindoor comes weeks after the deadly Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives.

Following the military strikes, India informed in a media briefing on Operation Sindoor that the joint military operation lasted nearly 25 minutes. The briefing was led by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.

The strikes began at 1:05 am and ended by 1:30 am on Wednesday, May 7. The nine locations struck during Operation Sindoor were chosen based on intelligence inputs, Col Sofiya Qureshi said. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh stated that these locations were selected to avoid civilian infrastructure. 

US steps in

Meanwhile, US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker met Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to initiate talks regarding de-escalation of tensions with India, PTI reported.

“The US Chargé d’Affaires conveyed the US desire for de-escalation and that it will stay engaged with both countries on the evolving situation,” the PTI report quoted Pakistan's Foreign Ministry as saying.

“We are reaching out to both parties and, of course, telling them to not escalate the situation,” US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, as per the report.

“Secretary Rubio believes diplomacy must take the lead,” Bruce said, noting that the secretary has also encouraged other national leaders and foreign ministers to reach out to the countries on this issue.

Apart from the United States, countries such as China and Russia have expressed concern about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.