New Delhi: In a stunning admission that has sparked fresh debate across diplomatic and military circles, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has revealed that his country requested a ceasefire with India following missile strikes on two critical air bases during Operation Sindoor, launched by India in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists.
Appearing on a Pakistani news show, Dar confirmed that India struck the highly sensitive Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi and PAF Base Rafiqui in Shorkot, Punjab, in the early hours of May 8. These strikes, part of a broader counter-terror offensive, prompted Islamabad to urgently reach out to the United States and Saudi Arabia for diplomatic intervention.
“Unfortunately, India once again launched missile strikes at 2:30 am. They attacked the Nur Khan air base and Shorkot air base,” said Dar. “Within 45 minutes, Saudi Prince Faisal called me. He had learned about my call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and offered to speak with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. I agreed, and shortly after, he informed me that he had conveyed our willingness to de-escalate.”
Operation Sindoor was launched by India during the night of May 7-8, targeting nine terror infrastructure hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The mission came in response to the deadly suicide bombing in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and escalated hostilities across the LoC and beyond.
The strikes were reportedly precise and damaging. Satellite images from May 10 confirmed destruction of strategic assets at the Nur Khan base, including two trailer trucks believed to be mobile command-and-control units. By May 17, further images showed Pakistan had begun clean-up operations at the site. The Nur Khan air base, located between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, is one of Pakistan’s most secure military facilities, home to both combat operations and VIP aircraft.
Dar’s disclosure also confirmed Indian strikes on PAF Base Rafiqui, a principal fighter air base housing Chinese-made JF-17 jets, French Mirage 5s, and Alouette III helicopters. The scope of India’s operation also reportedly extended to Bholari air base near Islamabad, where a Pakistani Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft was destroyed. The loss was publicly acknowledged by retired Air Marshal Masood Akhtar, who said the AWACS—used for long-range radar surveillance—was hit in one of the Indian missile strikes.
In the wake of India’s military response, Washington maintained a neutral public posture, but sources say the US delivered a strong private message to Islamabad, urging it to use the military hotline and avoid further escalation. The US is believed to have “practically ordered” Pakistan to initiate contact with India and de-escalate.
That directive culminated in a direct call on May 10 at 3:35 PM IST between Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Maj Gen Kashif Abdullah and his Indian counterpart Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai. India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri later confirmed the timing of the call during a press briefing. The result was a mutual agreement to halt all offensive military activity—on land, air, and sea—from 5 PM on May 10.
However, according to Indian officials, Pakistan violated the ceasefire within hours, triggering further skirmishes along the border. The situation has since remained tense, though large-scale military action has reportedly ceased.
The revelations by Pakistan’s Deputy PM have drawn criticism from within Pakistan as well, with opposition voices questioning the military’s preparedness and government’s transparency regarding damage sustained. Indian officials, meanwhile, have remained tight-lipped on operational specifics but hailed the mission as a decisive and proportional response to terrorism.
As India continues to assert its right to defend against cross-border terror, Pakistan’s rare public acknowledgment of military losses and behind-the-scenes diplomatic pleas paints a stark picture of the pressure it faced in the wake of Operation Sindoor.
