Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar recently announced that the armed forces of India and Pakistan have agreed to extend last week’s ceasefire until Sunday, May 18. Speaking to the Senate on Thursday, he mentioned that this extension opens the door for renewed political discussions.
Ishaq Dar stated, “Now that the ceasefire has been extended until May 18, it’s clear that we’re moving towards dialogue. Currently, these are military-to-military communications, but political dialogue will follow. The resolution of all issues lies there.”
Dar emphasized that Pakistan did not initiate the ceasefire request. He explained that the first call about a ceasefire came from the US Secretary of State, who indicated that India was looking for a truce. Pakistan, he noted, only expressed its willingness after receiving similar calls from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and China.
“We were already in touch with friendly nations before the conflict escalated,” he said. “We informed them of our restraint and made it clear that while we wouldn’t start hostilities, any aggression from India would be met with a strong response,” he added.
Dar also pointed out how Indian media quickly blamed Pakistan for the recent Pahalgam incident, drawing comparisons to the Pulwama attack.
The DPM criticized India for failing to provide any credible evidence once again. “This time, we didn’t let India’s narrative go unchallenged,” he remarked. “We resolved to respond decisively, and the Prime Minister even offered a transparent investigation, which India rejected without presenting any proof,” he added.
Referring to the events of May 7, Dar mentioned that 70 to 80 Indian fighter jets entered Pakistani airspace and dropped 24 payloads. “These bombs didn’t target militants; they fell on mosques and innocent civilians,” he noted. “In response, Pakistan shot down five Indian aircraft. Not a single one of our jets was destroyed.”
He mentioned that India is allegedly targeting Sikh communities with false flag operations to stir up tensions against Pakistan. “They’re spreading falsehoods, claiming our F-16s were involved. But the US has confirmed that no F-16s were either flown or shot down,” he added.
He went on to say that India launched 29 drones within the first 24 hours of the conflict and another 80 the following day. “Only one drone actually hit a military area, injuring four soldiers. We faced simultaneous attacks on multiple airbases and airports, and we responded firmly,” he stated.
Dar further emphasized, “We made it clear: when we retaliate, it won’t be done in secret. We released videos of our strikes and engaged with around 60 foreign ministers, reiterating our position — we will never start aggression, but we will always respond if provoked. The world witnessed our commitment to peace.”
He pointed out that The Telegraph commended the professionalism of the Pakistani military. He also spoke about India’s actions in Kashmir, asserting that Pakistan would bring this issue up in any future discussions. “India’s attempts to annex Kashmir and its violations of the Indus Waters Treaty are significant concerns,” he said.
“Even World Bank President Ajay Banga has confirmed that India has no right to suspend or terminate the treaty. For us, this is a non-negotiable issue. We made it clear on April 24 that any suspension of the treaty would be seen as an act of war,” he added.
Dar claimed that India incurred economic losses of at least $3 billion, while Pakistan faced devastating civilian casualties. “We did not target any civilian infrastructure,” he stressed. “Our losses include mostly women, children, and the elderly — a heavy toll we’ve paid in the face of aggression,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, the Indian foreign minister reiterated that the treaty with Pakistan would remain suspended until Islamabad puts an end to “cross-border terrorism.”
During a recent visit to troops stationed at a base in Qatar, part of his tour in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump shared his hopeful thoughts on the ceasefire and the potential for lasting peace between the two nations.
“And Pakistan was very happy with that [ceasefire], and India was very happy with that, and I think they’re on the right track,” he remarked. “We managed to settle things in a way that left everyone pleased. I’ll tell you, it really seemed like things were about to spiral out of control,” he added.
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Q1: Who announced the extension of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan?
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced the extension of the ceasefire until May 18.
Q2: What is the significance of the ceasefire extension?
The extension opens the door for renewed political dialogue following ongoing military-to-military communications.
Q3: Did Pakistan initiate the ceasefire?
No, the first ceasefire request came from the US Secretary of State, followed by similar calls from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and China.
Q4: How did Pakistan respond to Indian aggression?
Pakistan responded firmly to Indian airspace violations and drone attacks, shooting down five Indian jets without losing any of its own.
Q5: What is Pakistan’s stance on civilian casualties?
Pakistan stressed it did not target civilian infrastructure; civilian losses were mostly women, children, and the elderly due to Indian aggression.
Q6: What accusations did Ishaq Dar make against Indian media?
He criticized Indian media for blaming Pakistan without credible evidence, particularly regarding the Pahalgam incident.
