Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif says ready to 'end conflict' if India backs down

Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif

In a significant development, Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif on May 7 said Islamabad is ready to "end the conflict" if India backs down.

The minister was speaking to Bloomberg TV following India's Operation Sindoor, which saw New Delhi target nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

The strikes were in response to the dastardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam that led to the death of 26 civilians, including a Nepali citizen.

Khawaja, during the interview, confirmed attacks in 7 different locations including in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. "It all depends on India, it has been initiated by India. If they are ready to back down... they have taken the initiative, we have just responded," he told Bloomberg in response to a question on how far Islamabad is willing to go after Operation Sindoor.

"We have been saying all along last fortnight that we'll never initiate anything hostile towards India. But, if we are attacked we will respond. If India backs down, we will definitely  wrap up these things. But as long as we are under attack, we have to respond."

Khawaja further claimed that Pakistan has shot down Indian fighter jets, which has been refuted by New Delhi.

“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution,” India's defence ministry statement had said soon after the attack.