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India Today
8 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
India hit our airbases: Pakistan Deputy PM's big admission on Operation Sindoor
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that India attacked two important airbases in Pakistan -- Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi and Shorkot Airbase -- during Operation Sindoor. These airstrikes were carried out by India on May 7, just days after 26 civilians were killed in a terror attack in statement comes after several denials by the Pakistani government and military about the extent of the damage caused by India's strikes. Speaking on Geo News, Dar revealed that the attacks occurred just as Pakistan was preparing to strike back, which meant India acted faster and caught them off operation was a response to the brutal April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. According to India, the action was "precise, measured and non-escalatory," targeting only terror-related infrastructure and installations involved in planning or supporting cross-border Deputy PM Ishaq Dar' openly admits 2 things in this interviewIndia struck the Nir Khan Air base and Shorkot Air baseIshaq Dar' says Saudi Prince Faisal called him asking "Am I authorised to talk to Jaishankar also and CONVEY ..and you are READY TO TALK" OsintTV (@OsintTV) June 19, 2025SAUDI ARABIA TRIED TO CALM TENSIONS Dar also revealed that within just 45 minutes of the Indian strikes, Saudi Prince Faisal bin Salman personally contacted him right after the strikes. "Saudi Prince Faisal bin Salman called and asked if he could tell Jaishankar that Pakistan is ready to stop," Dar told Geo News. The prince wanted to speak to Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Pakistan's behalf to calm the shows that Riyadh played a quiet yet important role in trying to bring down tensions between India and Pakistan. Dar added that Islamabad also reached out to the United States in hopes of stopping further military escalation by confession also contradicts earlier claims made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other top officials of Pakistan, who had claimed that Pakistan had given a strong answer to India. But now, even PM Sharif has accepted that India carried out BrahMos missile strikes targeting several areas, including the Rawalpindi airport."India again launched missile attacks, BrahMos, and hit Pakistan's various provinces, including airport in Rawalpindi and other places," said Sharif in a recent admitted that Pakistan had planned a counterattack at 4:30 am on May 10, but India's second round of strikes on the night of May 9-10 disrupted those plans. This shows that Indian forces not only struck first, but they also successfully preempted Pakistan's more weight to the Indian offensive, General Asim Munir, Pakistan's Army Chief at the time and now promoted to Field Marshal, said that India's actions were aimed at creating a "new normal." According to Pakistani news outlet Dawn, Munir told overseas Pakistanis in Washington, "India attempted to establish a 'new normal' — a dangerous precedent of crossing international borders at will."OPERATION SINDOORadvertisementOperation Sindoor was launched by India as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians lost their lives. India carried out multiple drone and missile strikes on terror camps and military bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(Pok) starting from May response, Pakistan attempted attacks on Indian military sites on May 8, 9, and 10. However, India responded with even more powerful counter-attacks, hitting back at key locations and disrupting Pakistan's four days of rising tensions and cross-border strikes, both sides reached an understanding of a ceasefire on May InMust Watch
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First Post
12 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
Not only US, Pakistan reached out to Saudis too when India launched Operation Sindoor, reveals Ishaq Dar
Dar said Saudi Prince Faisal bin Salman personally inquired whether he could convey Pakistan's willingness to halt hostilities to Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, revealing that Riyadh was involved in behind-the-scenes diplomacy read more Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has confirmed that Islamabad reached out not only to US but also Saudi Arabia in a bid to de-escalate tensions after India's airstrikes under Operation Sindoor. Pakistan Deputy PM Ishaq Dar' openly admits 2 things in this interview 📍India struck the Nir Khan Air base and Shorkot Air base 📍 Ishaq Dar' says Saudi Prince Faisal called him asking "Am I authorised to talk to Jaishankar also and CONVEY ..and you are READY TO TALK"… — OsintTV 📺 (@OsintTV) June 19, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Speaking to Geo News, Dar said Saudi Prince Faisal bin Salman personally inquired whether he could convey Pakistan's willingness to halt hostilities to Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, revealing that Riyadh was involved in behind-the-scenes diplomacy. Dar also confirmed that India's precision strikes targeted key Pakistani military installations, including the Nur Khan and Shorkot airbases just as Pakistan was preparing to launch retaliatory strikes, a disclosure that sharply contradicts Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's earlier claims of a triumphant operation. 'Saudi Prince Faisal bin Salman called and asked if he could tell Jaishankar that Pakistan is ready to stop,' Geo News quoted Dar as saying. Dar's candid acknowledgment contradicts earlier official statements by the Pakistani leadership, which had emphasised that Pakistan delivered a decisive blow to India during Operation Sindoor. In reality, Dar's comments, along with PM Sharif's own recent statements, suggest that Pakistan was caught off guard by India's rapid and targeted military action. Just days after the strikes, Pakistan's military — under the command of Army Chief General Asim Munir — was reportedly reeling from the impact of India's surprise offensive, which disrupted planned counterattacks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD General Munir, who has since been promoted to Field Marshal, described India's actions as an attempt to impose a 'new normal' — referring to its cross-border precision strikes on terror-linked facilities across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. 'India attempted to establish a 'new normal' — a dangerous precedent of crossing international borders at will,' Dawn quoted General Munir as saying at a gathering of overseas Pakistanis in Washington. Adding to the shift in narrative, PM Sharif recently admitted that India had launched BrahMos missile strikes targeting multiple locations, including Rawalpindi airport. 'India again launched missile attacks, BrahMos, and hit Pakistan's various provinces, including airport in Rawalpindi and other places,' said Sharif. He added that Pakistan's planned counterstrike for 4:30 am on May 10 was preempted by India's offensive on the night of May 9-10, catching the military off guard. Together, these acknowledgments present a sharp shift from Islamabad's earlier boasts, revealing instead a defensive scramble against India's 'new normal.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India carried out precision strikes under 'Operation Sindoor' on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir early on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. The Indian forces launched a fierce counter-attack on several Pakistani military installations. India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes. With inputs from agencies
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
US President Trump hosts Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir
US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House on Wednesday in a rare meeting, just weeks after a four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan. The private luncheon was held as tensions continued to rise between Israel and Iran, with Trump reportedly weighing possible U.S. involvement. Pakistan's close ties with Tehran added further significance to the timing of the meeting. According to Geo News, Munir had lunch with Trump at the White House, although details of their discussion have not been made public. The Pakistan military leader now holds the title of "Field Marshal." It is unusual for a US president to host a foreign army chief for a White House lunch. While past Pakistani military leaders such as Ayub Khan, Zia ul-Haq, and Pervez Musharraf have received such invitations, they were also serving as presidents of the country at the time. Trump had returned to Washington early Tuesday morning, cutting short his trip to the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, due to the escalating crisis in the Middle East. An official advisory had announced that Trump would host the Pakistani Army Chief for lunch in the Cabinet Room at 1 pm. The meeting also comes against the backdrop of heightened India-Pakistan tensions, following the Pahalgam terror attack. In response, India conducted precision airstrikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. During Tuesday phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump asked if Modi could make a stopover in the US on his way back from Canada. However, Modi declined the request due to 'pre-scheduled engagements,' according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. In the same conversation, Modi informed Trump that the recent cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was achieved through direct communication between their respective militaries and not through any US mediation. Misri said Modi clearly stated that India does not and will 'never accept' third-party mediation, adding that the dialogue between Indian and Pakistani military officials was initiated at Pakistan's request. Modi's remarks come in response to Trump's repeated claims that he played a key role in brokering a ceasefire between the two nations. Meanwhile, Dawn newspaper reported that the White House invitation extended to Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir is being portrayed by Pakistani officials as a significant diplomatic achievement. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled areas. This led to four days of intense clashes, ending on May 10 after military commanders from both countries agreed to halt operations. India maintains that its forceful response compelled Pakistan to seek an end to the fighting. Last month, Munir was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal—the first such elevation since Ayub Khan in 1959. Speaking to the Pakistani-American community in Washington on Monday evening, Munir urged India to deal with Pakistan 'as a civilised nation' instead of trying to assert 'regional hegemony,' according to Dawn. He also denied any Pakistani role in the Pahalgam attack and accused India of attempting to create a 'new normal' by 'violating international borders,' a stance he said Pakistan has 'forcefully rejected.' The four-day exchange of fire between India and Pakistan that followed the Pahalgam strike ended after direct talks between the directors general of military operations on May 10. Munir's address at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington's Georgetown area reportedly drew some attention, but was met with protests by members of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, who demanded democratic reforms and the release of their jailed leaders. He also addressed the wider regional context, affirming Pakistan's strong backing of Iran in its war with Israel while simultaneously supporting U.S.-led efforts to reduce tensions. 'We want this war to end immediately,' Munir said. According to Dawn, a key outcome of Munir's U.S. visit has been the deepening of Pakistan's counterterrorism cooperation with Washington, particularly in combating the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) group.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
U.S. President Trump hosts Pak Army Chief Munir
In a rare gesture, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Jun 18, 2025) hosted Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir at the White house, weeks after India and Pakistan were locked in a four-day military conflict. The closed-door luncheon meeting came amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran with Mr. Trump exploring Washington's possible involvement. Islamabad is known for his close ties with Tehran. Mr. Munir met President Trump over lunch at the White House, the Geo News reported. It was immediately not known what transpired in the meeting between Mr. Trump and 'Field Marshal' Munir. It is rare for the U.S. president to host a lunch for the army chief of a foreign country. There have been precedents of Pakistan army chiefs, including Ayub Khan, Zia ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf, receiving such invites. But they were holding the post of president as well. The U.S. president had cut short his trip to Canada's Kananaskis for the G7 Leaders' Summit and returned to Washington Tuesday (Jun 17, 2025) morning amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Earlier, an official advisory said Mr. Trump would be hosting the Pakistan Army Chief for lunch in the Cabinet Room of the White House at 1 p.m. Interestingly, Mr. Trump, during a phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asked him if he could stop in the U.S. on his way back from Canada. But the prime minister expressed his inability to do so 'due to pre-scheduled engagements,' Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said. In the phone talks, Mr. Modi told Mr. Trump that India and Pakistan halted their military actions last month following direct talks between the two militaries without any mediation by the U.S.. Mr. Modi also firmly stated that India does not and will 'never accept' mediation and that the discussions between Indian and Pakistani militaries on cessation of military actions were initiated at Islamabad's request, Misri said. The Prime Minister's assertion came against the backdrop of Mr. Trump's persistent claims that he brokered the ceasefire deal between India and Pakistan. The White House's invitation to Mr. Munir is being projected by officials in Islamabad as a major diplomatic win, according to the Dawn newspaper. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes that ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions on May 10. New Delhi has been maintaining that India's fierce counter-attack that day forced Pakistan to plead for ending the hostilities. Last month, Mr. Munir was elevated to the rank of Field Marshal in the first such promotion since Ayub Khan in 1959. In an address to the Pakistani-American community on Monday (Jun 16, 2025) evening, Mr. Munir urged India to engage with Pakistan 'as a civilised nation' rather than 'attempting to impose regional hegemony', the Dawn reported. The Pakistan Army Chief also rejected allegations that Pakistan was behind the Pahalgam terror attack. Mr. Munir accused India of seeking to establish a 'new normal' of 'violating international borders', which he said Pakistan had 'forcefully rejected', according to the newspaper. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam terror attack, with India carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. The on-ground hostilities from the Indian and Pakistan sides that lasted for four days ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10. Mr. Munir's interaction with the Pakistani American community at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington's Georgetown neighbourhood drew some crowds, the Dawn said. However, protesters aligned with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party of former prime minister Imran Khan demonstrated outside, calling for democratic reforms and the release of their jailed leaders. Mr. Munir also addressed the broader regional landscape, declaring Pakistan's 'clear and strong' support for Iran in its war with Israel while also backing U.S. efforts to de-escalate the situation. 'We want this war to end immediately,' he said. One of the most consequential developments during Mr. Munir's visit, however, has been Pakistan's strengthened counterterrorism partnership with the United States, particularly against the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) group, the paper said. Gen Michael Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, recently described Pakistan as a 'phenomenal partner' in the fight against ISIS-K, praising Islamabad's operations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Gen Kurilla revealed to the House Armed Services Committee that Pakistani operations, supported by U.S. intelligence, had killed dozens of IS-K militants and captured multiple high-value individuals, including Mohammad Sharifullah, one of the masterminds of the Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul that killed 13 American troops. 'The first person Mr. Munir called was me,' Gen Kurilla said. 'He said, 'I've caught him — ready to extradite him back to the U.S.. Please tell the Secretary of Defence and the President'.' Sharifullah was promptly extradited. In a separate statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Kurilla noted that Pakistan had conducted 'dozens of operations' to dismantle IS-K's presence in the border regions and continues to play a pivotal role in countering terrorism in Central and South Asia.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
In rare move, Trump hosts Pakistan Army chief Munir at White House after India-Pak clashes
WASHINGTON: In a rare gesture, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday hosted Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir at the White house, weeks after India and Pakistan were locked in a four-day military conflict. The closed door luncheon meeting came amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran with Trump exploring Washington's possible involvement. Islamabad is known for is close ties with Tehran. Munir met President Trump over lunch at the White House, the Geo News reported. It was immediately not known what transpired in the meeting between Trump and "Field Marshal" Munir. It is rare for the US president to host a lunch for a army chief of a foreign country. There have been precedents of Pakistan army chiefs, including Ayub Khan, Zia ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf, receiving such invites. But they were holding the post of president as well. The US president had cut short his trip to Canada's Kananaskis for the G7 Leaders' Summit and returned to Washington Tuesday morning amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Earlier, an official advisory said Trump would be hosting the Pakistan Army Chief for lunch in the Cabinet Room of the White House at 1 pm. Interestingly, Trump, during a phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asked him if he could stop in the US on his way back from Canada. But, the prime minister expressed his inability to do so "due to pre-scheduled engagements," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said. In the phone talks, Modi told Trump that India and Pakistan halted their military actions last month following direct talks between the two militaries without any mediation by the US.
