POLITICS & POLICY MAKING
Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Friday urged India to honour the recently agreed ceasefire, warning that Islamabad would not hesitate to respond if New Delhi resumed hostilities.
The warning came from Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan during a weekly press briefing, in the aftermath of military conflict following the Pahalgam attack, which India had blamed on Pakistan. The situation escalated on May 6-7, when India conducted air strikes on Pakistani territory, killing civilians. The crisis quickly intensified into missile exchanges, lasting a week before American intervention helped broker a ceasefire.
Today, Pakistan observed Youm-i-Tashakur across the country to honour the armed forces and civilians for their roles in the military response, known as Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, which was part of Marka-i-Haq.
Speaking to reporters, Spokesperson Khan called the ceasefire a “positive development” and urged India to remain committed to its implementation. He thanked friendly nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, for their role in facilitating peace.
“The portrayal of Pakistan as frustrated or desperate is baseless,” Khan stated. “In contrast, Pakistan is a responsible state, fully committed to de-escalation and regional stability.”
He noted that military operations heads from both countries had been in periodic contact since May 10 and agreed on a phased de-escalation mechanism. As a goodwill gesture, Pakistan recently returned an Indian Border Security Force constable in exchange for a Pakistan Rangers sepoy.
Khan criticized India’s continued aggressive rhetoric, calling it a “persistent distortion of facts” and an attempt to cast doubts on Pakistan’s nuclear responsibility.
"Should India resume hostilities, Pakistan will have no choice but to respond," he warned.
He reiterated Pakistan's commitment to dialogue and peaceful resolution of all disputes, including occupied Kashmir, and urged international partners to ensure that India honors its commitments.
FM Dar Appreciates UK Role in De-escalation
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London to discuss bilateral ties and regional tensions. Dar appreciated the UK’s constructive role in facilitating the ceasefire and emphasized the need to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
Interior Minister Lauds Trump’s Role
In Islamabad, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with US Acting Ambassador Natalie Baker, where the two discussed mutual interests, bilateral relations, and the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
Naqvi expressed gratitude for US President Donald Trump’s direct role in de-escalating tensions. “President Trump rendered a great service to humanity by helping avert a catastrophic conflict between two nuclear powers,” he said.
The interior minister welcomed Trump's positive comments on Pakistan's leadership and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with the US in multiple sectors.
Ambassador Baker responded by emphasizing the strength of US-Pakistan ties and expressed interest in continued collaboration across various domains.
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