'De-escalate or pay a heavy price': India warns Pakistan to end proxy wars and surrender terror group heads

As the Indian armed forces continue to deliver a strong response to Pakistan’s military provocations — successfully intercepting missile and drone attacks — New Delhi has conveyed a clear message: Islamabad must de-escalate immediately or face “a heavy price,” News18 reported, citing top government sources.

“Pakistan should focus on the root-cause of the problem, which is eliminating terror from their country. India has attacked its enemies in Pakistan and not hit any military target or civilian,” the sources were quoted as saying.

“Our war preparedness is much better and technology is indigenous. Their ministers are creating hysteria and panic because they are desperate to save their domestic constituency. Our demand is also to hand over these terror groups heads—Masood Azhar, Rauf Azgar and Hafiz Saeed,” they added.

News18 further quoted sources saying that Pakistan must end its “proxy war and step back,” especially given its ongoing economic crisis and internal turmoil, with “90 percent of its population reportedly turning against the Army.”

On Thursday night, India neutralised Pakistan military's attempt to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and some other locations with missiles and drones as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider military conflict.

Sirens and numerous explosions were reported in Akhnoor, Samba, Baramulla and Kupwara and several other places as the Indian military carried out a massive night aerial vigil along the border with Pakistan.

After the Indian military foiled the Pakistani attempts, the defence ministry said India remains "fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people".

Pakistan's fresh attempts to target Indian military installations came less than 24 hours after a similar attempt.

On Thursday afternoon, the defence ministry said Indian armed forces foiled Pakistan's attempts to target military installations in 15 cities in the northern and western parts of the country using missiles and drones.

With India’s military on high alert and its defense capabilities bolstered, New Delhi has made it clear that any further provocation or support for terrorism will be met with a robust response. The message is unequivocal: Pakistan must cease its destabilizing activities or face a heavy price.