Hope talks will take place with India following global diplomatic push: DPM Dar

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed hope on Saturday that talks would take place with India following a global diplomatic push to ease tensions between the two nuclear neighbours after Islamabad's retaliation to New Delhi's aggression.

The Pakistan Army has launched a military operation, named Bunyan-um-Marsoos, targeting multiple Indian military installations in response to India's unprovoked attacks on Pakistani territory by India.

Pakistan's offensive came shortly after it said India had fired missiles at three air bases earlier hours of Saturday — including one close to the capital, Islamabad, but Pakistani air defences intercepted most of them.

"India should stop if there's an iota of sanity. If they stop, so will we. We do not want destruction and waste of funds. You know, both economies are different, but we generally want peace, without the hegemony of any country," Dar told Geo News.

"My recent interactions have been very positive, and I believe that the way for talks will be open now," he added.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir on Friday morning, according to the US State Department.

"He continued to urge both parties to find ways to de-escalate and offered US assistance in starting constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts," said State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

The Group of Seven countries on Friday urged maximum restraint and called on the two countries to engage in direct dialogue.

China also expressed "deep concern" on Saturday over the escalating situation between India and Pakistan and offered to play a constructive role in resolving the matter, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry.

'Victory will be ours'

Hours earlier, the DPM had asserted that "victory will be ours" after Pakistan launched a military operation in response to escalating Indian aggression. Dar, a seasoned politician, clarified that the action taken by Pakistan was defensive in nature and fully justified.

Dar said that Pakistan has shot down 80 Indian drones and that 35 Pakistani citizens have been martyred in Indian strikes. He further confirmed that India carried out attacks on key Pakistani airbases including Noor Khan, Shorkot, and Sukkur.

“This is not an offensive war,” Dar said. “Pakistan is responding to continuous Indian hostility. While we speak of peace, India acts otherwise," the foreign minister said.

He accused India of making baseless claims, especially following the Pahalgam incident, and pointed out that New Delhi has failed to present any concrete evidence.

“They shut the border, expelled our diplomats, and made wild accusations — all of which remain unproven.”

Dar maintained that Pakistan has exercised restraint, targeting only those who directly launched payloads against its territory. “Our operation is precise. The world is watching and understands that we are acting in self-defence.”

He added that Pakistan’s military had been prepared from day one, and no risks could be taken in light of India’s covert missile and drone strikes. “We cannot sit idle while they violate our sovereignty,” he said.

Dismissing India’s claims of hitting 15 targets and projecting nuclear superiority, Dar remarked, “Their lies in the past 48 hours have been non-stop. Their narrative won’t hold.”

He concluded by saying: “The responsibility is now on the world to make India realise its grave mistake. Our actions are proportionate and within our rights. Victory will be Pakistan’s.”

Meanwhile, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has hoped that India will not de-escalate to move to dialogue and diplomacy.

"We would hate to see the nuclear threshold being breached," he told Reuters.