File picture of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
| Photo Credit: AP

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister said Saturday (May 10, 2025) his country would consider de-escalation if India stopped further attacks. This came after India said it was committed to non-escalation if Pakistan reciprocated.

Both countries traded strikes on Saturday, the latest escalation in a conflict triggered by the Pahalgam terror attack last month that India blames on Pakistan.

Ishaq Dar, the Pakistani foreign minister, still warned that if India launched any strikes, “our response will follow”.

Operation Sindoor LIVE updates – May 10, 2025

Mr. Dar told Pakistan’s Geo News that he also conveyed this message to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio when he contacted him after speaking to New Delhi two hours ago.

“We responded because our patience had reached its limit. If they stop here, we will also consider stopping,” he said.

Early on Saturday (May 10, 2025) Pakistan claimed that its three airbases were targeted by Indian missiles and drones, according to media reports.

Meanwhile, in a special briefing in Delhi on ‘Operation Sindoor’, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Pakistani claims on actions they have taken in India are “based on lies and propaganda”. Indian defence officials released time-stamped images of Indian air bases undamaged after Pakistan claimed it had attacked them.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, at a news conference in New Delhi, said Pakistan also targeted health facilities and schools at its three air bases in Kashmir. “Befitting reply has been given to Pakistani actions,” she said.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who was also present at the news conference, said India was committed to “non-escalation” provided that Pakistan reciprocates. However, Pakistani ground forces were observed mobilising towards forward areas, she said, “indicating an offensive intent to further escalate the situation.”

“Indian armed forces remain in a high state of operational readiness,” she added.

Earlier, Mr. Rubio spoke to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and emphasised that “both sides need to identify methods to de-escalate and re-establish direct communication to avoid miscalculation,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement Saturday.

Mr. Rubio also proposed U.S. support in facilitating “productive discussions to avert future disputes,” the statement added.

State-run Pakistan Television reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened a meeting of the National Command Authority, the body responsible for overseeing the country’s missile program and other strategic assets.