Pakistan stands tall

In the annals of regional conflict and diplomacy, what transpired over the past few days between Pakistan and India will be remembered not only as a major military standoff but also as a moment where Pakistan emerged with its head held high. After India recklessly launched air-to-surface missiles at three Pakistani airbases in the dead of night, Pakistan responded with precision, resolve and strategic clarity. The unprovoked aggression by India was not only militarily rebuffed but morally exposed for what it was: a desperate, ill-thought-act by a government trying to mask its failures with dangerous brinkmanship. Let there be no confusion: this has been Pakistan’s moral and physical victory. While India may spin its narrative for domestic consumption, the world has seen the truth unfold in real time. Pakistan’s air defence system not only intercepted the initial assault but swiftly turned the tide afterwards as well. The retaliatory strikes by Pakistan were surgical – military bases, missile storage sites, and critical infrastructure inside India were targeted with such precision that India, stunned by Pakistan’s capability and resolve, found itself scrambling to call in diplomatic reinforcements.

CNN’s seasoned diplomatic editor Nic Robertson has revealed how rattled India was, reaching out frantically to the US, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and others to broker peace after facing a barrage of Pakistan’s retaliation. What followed was a series of high-level backchannel negotiations, culminating in US President Donald Trump announcing a full and immediate ceasefire – a move Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed, reiterating Islamabad’s commitment to peace, but issuing a stern warning to India: any future aggression will be met with a firm, decisive response. Pakistan has demonstrated tremendous restraint despite being repeatedly provoked. We escalated only to de-escalate – and this fact must not be lost on the global community. If Pakistan had not responded with the force it did, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would never have agreed to the ceasefire. That is fact. What is also fact is that India’s dangerous adventurism nearly brought two nuclear powers to the brink of disaster – just because one man’s ego got hurt after his military embarrassment on May 7.

It is now imperative that this ceasefire is upheld and followed by serious dialogue. Just a few hours after the ceasefire, reports of violations by India on the LoC started coming in. That must not happen. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed that talks on a broad set of issues will commence at a neutral site. These talks must include an impartial, international investigation into the Pahalgam attack – a pretext India used to strike Pakistan without evidence. Pakistan has consistently maintained that it had no role in the attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). International outlets have already debunked the Indian media’s jingoistic claims. This conflict has reaffirmed what many in the international community have long suspected: Modi’s India is becoming a threat to regional and global peace. From its role in the assassination of a Sikh leader in Canada to plots uncovered in the U.S. and acts of terrorism in Pakistan, India’s aggressive and covert operations are finally coming to light. The world must now treat India’s actions with the seriousness they deserve and hold it accountable before another crisis unfolds. But while Pakistan may have shown its military might, it remains a responsible actor in the region. Our strategic response was calibrated not to destroy but to deter. India cannot be trusted on verbal assurances alone. We need a long-term written framework for peace and security in South Asia, one that protects Pakistan’s sovereignty and holds India accountable. Pakistan walks away from this crisis stronger – with its air defences validated, its diplomacy praised and its moral high ground firmly intact. And India knows: any future misadventure will be met not just with resistance, but with force. Peace without dignity or security is not peace – its prison.