Ready to 'wrap' tensions if India de-escalates: Pakistan Defence Minister Asif

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said Islamabad is open to reducing tensions with India, provided New Delhi chooses to de-escalate the current situation.

His remarks came in the wake of India’s military strikes on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor, conducted in the early hours of Wednesday.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Asif stressed that Pakistan would not initiate hostilities but would respond if provoked.

“We have consistently maintained over the past two weeks that we will not initiate any hostile action against India. However, if we are attacked, we will respond,” he said.

“If India chooses to step back, we are fully prepared to wind down this tension.”

Asif also noted that he was not aware of any potential diplomatic engagements or talks being planned between the two countries at this stage.

India’s strikes targeted nine terror-related sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's marquee tourist resort--Pahalgam, leaving 26 people dead and at least 20 injured.