Pakistan, India expel officials of each other’s high commissions amid fraught ties: FO takes Modi to task over ‘inflammatory assertions’

By News Desk

ISLAMABAD: With ceasefire holding for another day between Pakistan and India, and the two countries’ Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) expected to work the phones on Thursday, Pakistan, while rejecting the provocative and inflammatory assertions made by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address on Monday, Tuesday said that at a time when international efforts are being made for regional peace and stability, this statement represents a dangerous escalation rooted in misinformation, political opportunism and a blatant disregard for international law.

The Foreign Office, in a statement said that India’s illegal and unilateral actions are also reflected by its blatant disregard for the sanctity of binding agreements like the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) that has governed shared water resources for decades. “Pakistan will take all necessary measures to preserve its rights under the treaty,” it added.

In this era, peace is the true strength, world is not served by theatrical militarism and grandstanding but by mature leadership, regional cooperation and respect for international norms, the statement said in a message to New Delhi.

“This statement also reflects a propensity to fabricate misleading narratives to justify aggression. Pakistan is a sovereign nation with resilient institutions, a committed populace, and a globally recognised role in maintaining peace and security. Our commitment to peace must never be mistaken for weakness. Any future aggression will also be met with full resolve. We hope India will prioritise regional stability and the well-being of its citizens over the narrow, politically motivated jingoism,” said the Foreign Office while mentioning Modi’s address.

Pakistan underlined that it remains committed to the recent ceasefire understanding and taking necessary steps towards de-escalation and regional stability.

“This ceasefire was achieved as a result of the facilitation of several friendly countries which contacted us with a message of de-escalation. The portrayal of Pakistan as seeking a ceasefire in despair and frustration is yet another blatant lie”, added the Foreign Office.

The Pahalgam attack is being exploited without credible evidence to malign Pakistan, justify military adventurism by contriving a casus belli, serve domestic political objectives, deflect attention from rising communal tensions, human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and reinforce a manufactured narrative of a perpetual external threat.

“After the unlawful and unprovoked Indian aggression against innocent Pakistani civilians on the false pretext of terrorism, and despite Pakistan’s restraint, India recklessly provoked the situation further by targeting Pakistan’s military bases, risking an uncontrollable escalatory spiral,” said the statement.

Indian actions set a dangerous precedent for aggression, dragging the entire region to the brink of disaster, reflecting the mindset of a revisionist actor that seeks to upend strategic stability in South Asia without regard for consequences. Moreover, India is justifying the cold-blooded murder of innocent civilians, mostly women and children, as well as its highly irresponsible brinkmanship as the “new normal” for the region.

“Pakistan totally rejects this assertion. The ‘normal’ remains that no one will be allowed to challenge the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, as amply demonstrated by Pakistan in resolutely defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity, as well as the security of its people.

“Make no mistake, we will closely monitor India’s actions and behaviour in this regard in the coming days. We also urge the international community to do the same”, warned Pakistan.

Consistent with its right to self-defence, Pakistan’s response to Indian aggression was calibrated and targeted against military installations. Pakistan proved its strength against Indian military capability and targets. It is now an indisputable and well-known fact which cannot be denied by misinformation and propaganda.

“Pakistan is a victim of terrorism, being directly sponsored by India. We have suffered a lot due to this scourge. Our contributions and sacrifices in the global fight against terrorism are well known.

“Pakistan has always supported the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. In this regard, we reiterate our support for President Trump’s efforts aimed at the resolution of this dispute, which remains a source of instability in South Asia.”

Meanwhile, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said that at least 40 civilians were martyred and 121 were injured in Indian unprovoked attacks on the night of May 6 and 7 while 11 personnel of armed forces, including a young PAF officer, embraced Shahadat as Pakistan gave a resolute response to adversary under the banner of Maarka-i-Haq.

On the night of 6 and 7 May, the Indian armed forces launched unprovoked and reprehensible dastardly attacks targeting innocent civilians, including women, children and the elderly.

These barbaric strikes resulted in the martyrdom of 40 civilians — among them seven women and 15 children — while 121 others sustained injuries, including 10 women and 27 children, the military’s media wing said.

In response to this grave aggression, the Pakistan Armed Forces mounted a resolute response under the banner of Maarka-i-Haq, delivering precise and notch-up retributive strikes through Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.

While defending the motherland with exemplary valour, 11 personnel of the Pakistan Armed Forces embraced martyrdom and 78 were wounded.

The martyrs from the Pakistan Army include Naik Abdul Rehman, Lance Naik Dilawar Khan, Lance Naik Ikramullah, Naik Waqar Khalid, Sepoy Muhammad Adeel Akbar and Sepoy Nisar.

The PAF martyrs are Squadron Leader Usman Yousuf, Chief Technician Aurangzeb, Senior Technician Najeeb, Corporal Technician Farooq and Senior Technician Mubashir.

Their noble sacrifice of martyrs is an enduring symbol of courage, devotion and unwavering patriotism — etched forever in the nation’s memory, the statement said.

The Pakistan Armed Forces, together with the people of Pakistan, pay solemn tribute to the martyred civilians and military personnel, and offer heartfelt prayers for the swift recovery of the injured. The nation remains resolute in the face of aggression. Let there be no ambiguity: any attempt to challenge Pakistan’s sovereignty or territorial integrity, ever again, shall be met with a swift, full-spectrum, and decisive response Inshallah, the ISPR said.

Meanwhile, details of Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft shot down by the PAF have emerged.

In PAF’s retaliatory operation, IAF fighter jets were downed in various areas. According to security sources, the pilots of destroyed IAF jets were either injured or missing. One Indian aircraft crashed in the Anantnag area and was destroyed, with fears that the pilot was killed.

Security sources reported that the ejection seat of the destroyed Indian aircraft was found in the Gadool-Kokernag area of IIOJK’s Anantnag district.

The sources stated that a second Indian aircraft crashed and was destroyed in Pampore or Pulwama area, and the pilots of this Indian aircraft were transferred to a Srinagar hospital in critical condition.

According to the sources, another Indian fighter jet crashed and was destroyed in the Panthial/ Ramsoo area of Ram Ban district. The injured pilot of the Indian aircraft destroyed in Ram Ban, a flying officer, was shifted to the Army Hospital in Udhampur.

The sources revealed that another IAF aircraft crashed in the fields of Bharad Kalan tehsil in Akhnoor, and both pilots who ejected from the destroyed aircraft in Akhnoor were injured and taken to a military hospital in Akhnoor.

The security sources also claimed that an IAF aircraft was destroyed in the Bhatinda area.

Earlier, Indian authorities had confirmed the downing of three aircraft, but now, for the first time, the IAF has indirectly admitted that Rafale jets were shot down by the PAF.

PAF’s Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed stated that the PAF achieved a 6-0 victory against the IAF.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a statement, observed that operation ‘Bunyanum Marsoos’ made it clear to India that it must respect the sovereignty and integrity of other nations in the region. “We are a peaceful nation, but we know how to respond to any aggression. Operation Bunyanum Marsoos is a clear proof of that,” he said.

The prime minister paid tributes to the martyrs of Maarka-i-Haq (Battle of Truth), and said that through the operation Bunyanum Marsoos, the Pakistan Armed Forces shattered India’s illusion of numerical strength and arrogance. “We not only defended the country with full force but also ensured that the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan remained unscathed. The brave officers and soldiers of the Pakistan Armed Forces fulfilled their promise to the nation to protect the motherland,” he remarked.

The prime minister saluted the families of those who sacrificed their lives for the nation. He paid tribute to one officer and 4 personnel of the Pakistan Air Force and six soldiers of the Pakistan Army who were martyred while defending the homeland. He said that the entire nation was proud of its martyrs and their families, and that they would never forget the sacrifices of its brave sons.

Expressing grief over the martyrdom of 40 innocent civilians, including 15 children and seven women, as a result of Indian aggression, he said, “We have not forgotten the martyrs of the nation, nor will we do so, and their families will never be left alone.”

Shehbaz reiterated that a Martyrs Package had already been announced, and the state would fully support the martyrs families. He prayed to Allah Almighty for elevation of the martyrs’ ranks, patience for their families and early recovery of the injured.

Meanwhile, the prime minister, in a post on ‘X’, said: “I was profoundly touched by my dear brother, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for his strong expression of support and unwavering solidarity with Pakistan.

“Pakistan is proud of its long-standing, time-tested and abiding fraternal ties with Turkiye that have grown stronger with each new challenge. I am particularly grateful for His Excellency’s constructive role and concerted efforts in promoting peace in South Asia.

“May the bonds between Pakistan and Turkiye continue to grow stronger as we work together to build a bright and prosperous future for our two countries and their peoples.”

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari said that India’s blatant aggression had further united and strengthened the Pakistani people, and that the entire nation and its armed forces were always ready to respond to India’s hostility. According to a statement issued by the President House on Tuesday, President Zardari paid tribute to those martyred as a result of unprovoked Indian aggression against Pakistan and said that the entire nation saluted the brave sons of Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force who sacrificed their lives for the country’s security. “We are proud of the sacrifices of our martyrs. Our brave forces have successfully defended the nation and the country’s integrity. Through Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, our brave forces shattered the enemy’s arrogance,” he remarked.

He said that people and the brave forces of Pakistan were always ready to thwart any aggression and would give a crushing response to every attack on their national security and sovereignty. He expressed grief over the loss of precious lives, including children and women, during the Indian attacks. He also extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and prayed for their patience and strength, and swift recovery of the injured.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told CNN that Pakistan did not consider deploying nuclear warheads to strike India. In his first interview since India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire Saturday, Dar said Islamabad “had no choice” but to launch strikes in “self-defence” following India’s May 7 cross-border attacks.

He said that the nuclear option was never on the table. “There are certain times when you have to take very serious decisions,” he said, “We were very sure that our conventional capacity and capabilities are strong enough that we will beat them both in air and on ground.”

Dar told CNN that long-term negotiations between the two parties are “not done yet”. “We still hope sense will prevail,” he said.

When asked about the impetus for the unexpected deal, Dar told CNN that “It is in the interest of everybody to not delay or to leave such issues beyond a certain reasonable time. (The Indians) had seen what happened in the sky. They could see how serious the damage was.”

There was no direct contact between Indian or Pakistani officials, Dar said, contradicting a previous assertion made by India’s director general of military operations, who reportedly received a message from his counterpart in Pakistan during the talks.

Instead, Dar said that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio passed on the message that India was ready to stop the fighting. Rubio said in a Saturday statement that he and US Vice President JD Vance had spoken to the political and military leadership in India and Pakistan to secure the agreement before the situation deteriorated further.

Dar said that Pakistan was looking forward to establishing a path for long-term peace and security that would provide “dignity for both sides”. He pointed to Kashmir as “the root cause of this regional instability” and called for the region’s “future self-determination”.

The deputy PM reiterated that Pakistan was not behind last month’s rampage, saying, “We condemn terrorism in all forms and manifestations.” He said that he believes US President Donald Trump supports Pakistan’s antiterrorism efforts. “If they didn’t believe (in our efforts), they would not have cooperated the way (that they did),” Dar said, pointing to Trump’s social media post on “finding a solution” to the Kashmir conflict.

However, Dar warned that the already precarious ceasefire could be threatened “if the water issue is not resolved” in the coming talks, referring to the Indus Waters Treaty. Failure to resolve the water issue “will amount to an act of war,” Dar said.