Pakistan’s defence minister stated on Saturday that no session of the highest military and civilian body that controls the country’s nuclear weapons had been planned after a military attack on India earlier in the day. Pakistan’s military stated previously that the prime minister had urged the authority to convene. The information minister did not immediately comment on a request.
The deadliest clashes between the nuclear-possessing arch-rivals since 1999 have killed scores of combatants on both sides and prompted successive calls for restraint from the United States and the G7 club of wealthy nations.
“This nuclear option that you have discussed (nuclear option) exists, but let’s not discuss it – we should consider it a very remote possibility, we shouldn’t even mention it in the immediate context,” Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said to ARY TV.
Before we reach there, I believe temperatures will cool down. No meeting has taken place of the National Command Authority, nor is any such meeting planned.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir and India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and appealed to both countries to de-escalate and “re-establish direct communication to avoid miscalculation”.
“India’s response has always been cautious and mature and continues to be so,” Jaishankar stated on X following the call with Rubio. Pakistan’s foreign minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar said in a local television interview that if India stops here then “we will consider to stop here.”
Indian media said Indian and Pakistani officials had spoken on Saturday. The Indian army stated about Pakistan’s military incursions on Saturday that “all hostile actions have been effectively countered and responded appropriately.”
“The Pakistan army has been seen to be shifting their soldiers towards forward areas, showing offensive intent to further increase the situation,” Indian Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said in a press conference. Indian military forces are in a heightened state of operational alertness. Indian military forces reaffirm their pledge of non-escalation if matched by the Pakistan military.”.
