Pakistan reached out to India twice, including a formal request for a ceasefire on May 7, just days before a truce was announced.
However, officials were sceptical of Islamabad’s intentions, as it simultaneously attacked Indian military and civilian sites.
The death toll from Pakistan’s Operation Sindoor has surpassed 160, including over 20 from Bahawalpur, some related to Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, and about 35-40 Pakistani military personnel. The Pakistan Army has officially reported only 11 military casualties.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar noted that Pakistan was informed 30 minutes after Operation Sindoor’s first phase concluded, emphasising that India’s actions targeted only terror infrastructure.
Regarding the U.S. role in the ceasefire, he stated that India was clear: “They fire, we fire. They stop, we stop.” India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to an April 22 attack in Pahalgam, leading to Islamabad’s retaliatory strikes.
