'We’ll Definitely Wrap Up...': Pakistan Defence Minister Says Military Will Refrain If India Halts Strikes

Pakistan's response comes amid rising tensions following India's pre-dawn strikes under 'Operation Sindoor' on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied  Jammu Kashmir (PoJK).

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif (File Image)

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that the Pakistani military is willing to refrain from further escalation if India stops its ongoing military operations. His remarks come amid rising tensions following India's pre-dawn strikes under 'Operation Sindoor' on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied  Jammu Kashmir (PoJK).

Speaking to Bloomberg Television, Asif stated, “We have been saying all along the last fortnight that we will never initiate anything hostile toward India. But if India attacks, we’ll respond... If India backs down, we’ll definitely wrap up these things.” He added, “These are not hostile acts — we are just defending our territory.”

“We have to defend ourselves,” Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif says in an interview with Bloomberg Television following India’s military strikes on its territory.

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Operation Sindoor

India launched 'Operation Sindoor' early Wednesday, targeting nine terror locations including Bahawalpur, Muridke, Tehra Kalan, Sialkot, Bhimber, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad. These areas are known strongholds of terror groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The Indian Ministry of Defence stated that the strikes were “focused, measured and non-escalatory” and deliberately avoided targeting Pakistani military facilities. The action followed the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed.

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Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Indian strikes, calling them an “act of war” and asserting that Pakistan has every right to deliver a "befitting reply." He said that India carried out attacks at five places in Pakistan.

"Pakistan has every right to give a befitting reply to this act of war imposed by India, and a strong response is indeed being given,” Sharif said in a statement.

Sharif said his armed forces “know very well how to deal with the enemy".

"We will never let the enemy succeed in its nefarious objectives,” he added.

Meanwhile, Asif has claimed that the Pakistani military had shot down five Indian jets. As of now, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not responded to these claims.