Pakistan’s powerful strikes forced India to seek US mediation: US journalist

NEW YORK: Hours after New Delhi and Islamabad agreed to ceasefire after mediation from US President Donald Trump, CNN journalist Nic Robertson revealed that Pakistan’s powerful retaliatory strikes in response to Indian aggression pushed India into an urgent retreat, leading to a ceasefire.

“When India attacked three Pakistani airbases, Pakistan responded with a relentless, massive barrage of missiles and rockets... into Indian military facilities, airbases, and weapons storage sites,” Robertson said while speaking to CNN.

“That really put India on the backfoot — they didn’t know what had happened,” he added.

Robertson, while talking to CNN Saturday, cited a source who was present during high-level negotiations, revealing that Pakistan was sort of on a “military pause” to give a window for diplomacy. “What I understand from this source is that that was blown out of the window when India attacked three airbases,” he added.

In response, the journalist added, Pakistan unleashed its full military capability, prompting New Delhi to seek immediate mediation through US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Saudi Arabia, and Turkish officials.

Despite multiple flare-ups throughout the day, he said the ceasefire was finally brokered after intense international diplomatic pressure. “The ceasefire was described by sources as a now or never moment,” he added.

The CNN journalist also noted that water rights remain a critical issue for Pakistan moving forward. “The key issue for Pakistan going forward is water,” Robertson said, quoting a source. “But for now, this is a ceasefire — everything will work out from there.”