Islamabad: In a significant revelation that alters the ongoing narrative of Indo-Pakistani tensions, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has publicly acknowledged that Islamabad requested a ceasefire after its airbases were struck by Indian forces. The admission comes in the wake of India’s high-profile retaliation, dubbed Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
During a media interaction, Dar confirmed that the Nur Khan airbase near Rawalpindi and Shorkot (Rafiqui) airbase were hit during India’s surprise military operation. These strikes were part of a broader strategy by India to dismantle terror infrastructure and assert strategic dominance across the border. Dar explained that the Pakistani military was caught off guard as the strikes occurred while their defensive units were still mobilizing, leaving Islamabad with limited immediate options.
According to Dar, within just 45 minutes of the Indian assault, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Faisal contacted India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in an attempt to initiate diplomatic de-escalation. It was following this intervention that Pakistan responded positively, signalling its willingness to halt further hostilities and effectively requesting a ceasefire. This contrasts sharply with Pakistan’s earlier stance, which sought to portray the country as taking a firm retaliatory position.
Dar’s acknowledgment marks a rare moment of transparency from Pakistan’s political leadership and casts a new light on the region’s security dynamics. While earlier statements from the Pakistani side hinted at measured retaliation, this disclosure reveals that diplomatic channels were activated under pressure, and not as part of a balanced negotiation.
The revelation also underscores the growing importance of third-party mediation in South Asia’s conflict architecture. Saudi Arabia’s role as a mediator highlights shifting geopolitical alliances and the influence Gulf states wield in regional stability. However, Indian officials have maintained that their operations were precise, calculated, and based on national security imperatives not external pressure. New Delhi has also reiterated that the ceasefire was a result of its strategic goals being met, not a concession to Pakistani appeals.
As the dust settles, this statement by Deputy PM Ishaq Dar could have far-reaching diplomatic consequences, not only in shaping global perception of the recent standoff but also in defining the contours of future engagement between the two nuclear neighbours. What remains clear is that India’s Operation Sindoor succeeded in delivering a decisive blow and Pakistan’s call for a ceasefire may be seen as an implicit acknowledgment of that reality.