Dar says Pakistan made no move for ceasefire with India

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Thursday accused India of habitually levelling baseless allegations against Pakistan, saying that Islamabad had only responded after New Delhi’s unilateral actions following the Pahalgam incident.

“After Pahalgam incident, India took a series of illegal, provocative steps. In response, Pakistan reacted with full resolve,” said Dar while addressing the Senate session. He confirmed that Pakistan had closed its airspace to India as part of its countermeasures.

Dar said the National Security Committee took swift decisions following Indian aggression. “We kept friendly nations informed about the situation and conveyed that Pakistan was exercising restraint,” he added, noting that regional leaders were in touch throughout the crisis.

He accused Indian media of launching a propaganda campaign after the Pahalgam incident and said Pakistan had categorically rejected the allegations.

“Despite Indian provocations, Pakistan acted with maturity and responsibility,” the deputy premier said, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had even offered transparent and neutral investigations into the Pahalgam attack.

In contrast to Pakistan’s reaction to Pahalgam attack, Dar said that India had not even issued a single condemnation of the Jaffar Express attack in Balochistan. “India must realise its responsibilities at international forums,” he said.

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However, Dar said, when India continued attacking Pakistan, the country’s armed forces were authorised to move from a phase of restraint to active operational response, executing a pre-planned strategy.

“Pakistan shot down six Indian aircraft, including Rafales. India faced international embarrassment,” he said, adding that 80 Indian drones had also been neutralised.

He said India fired missiles towards Amritsar in an attempt to incite the Sikh community against Pakistan, but the world had accepted that Pakistan did not target Sikh religious sites.

“India spread lies globally about the air combat, but no F-16 took off from Pakistan before the attacks. We responded only in self-defence, in line with international law,” Dar clarified.

He reiterated that Pakistan never sought a ceasefire during the conflict and commended the armed forces for their historic success in the ‘Ma’raka-e-Haq’.

“We salute the bravery of our armed forces for this historic victory,” said the deputy prime minister.