Pakistan’s Defence Minister Retreats from Rhetoric, Signals De-escalation!
Operation Sindoor — India’s Precise Answer to Terror
On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, a swift and focused military operation that targeted nine terror camps deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). These pre-dawn strikes came as a direct response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, including a foreign national. Indian intelligence confirmed the involvement of Pakistan-based terrorist organizations like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen, prompting the surgical action.
The operation was not just a tactical military move—it was a statement. Conducted with precision, the strikes avoided civilian and military infrastructure, focusing solely on terror hubs. While India emphasized the non-escalatory intent of the mission, the political tremors were immediately felt across the border.
Pakistan’s Initial Threats: Fire and Fury
In the immediate aftermath of the Indian strikes, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif adopted a combative tone. Speaking to local media, he issued a stern warning: “If India attempts to occupy even an inch of our land, it will prove to be a costly misadventure… We will respond with full force.”
He emphasized that Pakistan’s response would be both “kinetic and diplomatic”, hinting at a broader spectrum of retaliation. The rhetoric matched the traditional line Pakistan has often taken—bluster, denial, and threats of disproportionate response, usually aimed at gaining diplomatic sympathy while rallying internal support.
However, within hours, the narrative began to shift.
The U-Turn: Khawaja Asif’s Surprising Softening
In a striking change of tone, Khawaja Asif told Bloomberg TV that Pakistan was willing to “wrap up” hostilities if India stood down. “This has been initiated by India. If India is ready to back down… we have just responded. If they back down, we will definitely wrap up these things,” Asif said, signaling a willingness for dialogue and de-escalation.
This reversal was notable for multiple reasons:
- Temporal contrast – Just hours earlier, Asif had been promising all-out retaliation.
- Strategic retreat – Despite claims of shooting down Indian jets (denied by India), Asif’s statement acknowledged India’s initiative and opened a window for peace.
- Psychological signaling – His remarks suggested not just a diplomatic pivot but a recognition that Pakistan may not have the capacity or appetite for escalation, especially after the swift and targeted nature of Operation Sindoor.
Tactical Success, Strategic Impact
India’s strikes were designed to be effective without crossing the red line of a conventional war. According to sources, over 80 terrorists were neutralized, and major training and logistical bases were destroyed. The absence of civilian casualties and restraint from targeting Pakistani military installations underscored India’s intent: justice without provocation.
By focusing on terror infrastructure, India sent a dual message:
- To terrorist groups: Your safe havens are no longer safe.
- To Pakistan: Continued support for such elements will invite targeted retribution, not diplomatic appeasement.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office called the strikes an “unprovoked and blatant act of war,” and its army warned of a response at a “time and place of its choosing.” However, no concrete military action followed, and Asif’s walk-back the same day painted a picture of internal dissonance in Islamabad.
Behind the Curtain: Why the Shift?
Several factors may have influenced Khawaja Asif’s change in stance:
- International pressure: With global powers like the US and Israel backing India’s right to self-defence, Pakistan risks isolation if it continues to harbor and defend terror elements.
- Economic fragility: Pakistan’s worsening financial condition, coupled with ongoing IMF negotiations, makes war a risky venture.
- Military imbalance: India’s technological edge and precision capability, as demonstrated in Operation Sindoor, may have exposed Pakistan’s limited retaliatory capacity.
- Narrative control: By reframing the strikes as Indian “initiatives” and signaling openness to peace, Asif may be trying to save face domestically while appearing reasonable internationally.
Operation Sindoor and the Power of Calibrated Deterrence
Operation Sindoor was more than a retaliatory strike—it was a strategic message of deterrence delivered with surgical clarity. India demonstrated that it would no longer tolerate cross-border terrorism and would respond with precision and restraint. More significantly, by avoiding civilian casualties, India won credibility in international circles while shaking the very foundations of Pakistan’s denial machinery.
Khawaja Asif’s tone-shift is a testament to the effectiveness of India’s calibrated approach. Instead of spiraling into a dangerous standoff, India’s action forced Pakistan into a defensive posture—both militarily and diplomatically.
In a region where high-voltage rhetoric often clouds reason, India’s silence in strike and strength in diplomacy has reset the rules of engagement. The message is clear: terror has a cost, and its enablers will pay it—quietly or otherwise.
(With agency inputs )
