Pakistan issues clarification

I am writing to you to express my strong concerns over the opinion piece written by Mr. Alex Magno entitled “Defused” on May 13, 2025. This article shows a clear bias of the writer against Pakistan and his lack of knowledge of the region and the recent events that led to military escalation between Pakistan and India. More importantly, this article contains assertions that are factually incorrect. These are:

• Indian airpower devastated most of Pakistan’s military installations.

Fact: In the intervening night of May 9-10, 2025, Pakistan Air Force bases in Nur Khan, Rafiqui and Murid were targeted. Only Nur Khan air base was hit but all the military assets remained safe, resulting in minor damages.

In response, Pakistan targeted Indian Airforce and Aviation bases at Suratgarh, Sirsa, Bhuj, Naliya, Adampur, Bhatinda, Barnala, Halwara, Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Udhampur, Mamun, Ambala and Pathankot and caused major damage at all these bases. BrahMos storage facilities at Beas and Nagrota were also destroyed. India’s S-400 battery system at Adampur and Bhuj were also effectively neutralized.

Similarly, field supply depot at Uri and radar station at Poonch were also targeted. All those facilities and assets were targeted, which planned, coordinated and executed attacks against Pakistan. Therefore, Pakistan’s response was precise, proportionate, calibrated and restrained.

• Both New Delhi and Islamabad were quick to point out that the ceasefire was mutually agreed upon by the two warring countries in the context of President Trump claiming credit for the cessation of hostilities.

Fact: Pakistan never said that the ceasefire was mutually agreed without any role of mediators. Pakistan maintains that the US and a couple of other countries were undertaking mediation efforts. However, Pakistan made it abundantly clear that it reserves the right to reply under Article 51 of the UN Charter. It was only after Pakistan practically destroyed India’s command and control system and neutralized those military assets of India from where attacks were being launched against Pakistan that international efforts gained momentum for the ceasefire.

While all ceasefires had to be mutually agreed upon (as one party cannot announce ceasefire imposing on other), international mediation played a very important role (it was not as if Pakistan DG (MO) called the Indian DG (MO) for the ceasefire). The fact that President Trump was the first one to tweet the ceasefire and the Indian Foreign Secretary later made the announcement, evidently makes ceasefire mediators’ role.

• As hostilities were building up, Islamabad issued a call for Muslims in Bangladesh and inside India to undertake actions against the Modi government in New Delhi. This is totally incorrect. Islamabad never issued such call. The writer, Mr. Magno, may be asked to provide proof to this fabricated piece of information.

Even otherwise the opinion shows the author’s lack of knowledge, if not an outright bias, in the case of Pakistan-India relations, the conflict and prevailing realities in Pakistan. For example, the article’s mention of Balochistan’s division between Pakistan and Iran in a similar vein as that of Kashmir is highly inappropriate. What historically was Balochistan is now part of both Pakistan and Iran. However, both Iran and Pakistan recognize that as international border. The fact of the matter is that many communities around the world face similar divisions.

The author’s lack of knowledge becomes abundantly evident when he says that this “permanent state of war ingrained the role of the army in Pakistan’s “governance” and then he goes on calling Pakistan as a “national security state at its worst form.” The author’s attempt to bring in Balochistan and the role of army is not only biased but factually incorrect. Any observer of Pakistan-India relations over the past seven decades will be able to confirm that the issue of Kashmir is central to all tensions between Pakistan and India. Even President Trump in his tweet on Truthsocial after the ceasefire said, “I will work with you both to see if a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir.”

I would like to reiterate that according to the United Nations Security Council resolution, a plebiscite had to take place in whole of Kashmir to determine the will of Kashmiri people. But India has so far denied Kashmiris the right of self-determination. It has refused to accept the UNSC resolutions that it earlier accepted. India has launched a reign of terror and repression against the people of Kashmir in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. IIOJK is the most militarized region on earth. There is a consensus at the international level that Kashmir is the main flashpoint that can bring the two nuclear armed nations to the brink of a full blown war.

In the fog of war, for the observers, it is very hard to sift facts from lies. However, there are few things which should be noted. In the briefing conducted by Pakistani side, the tone was measured and professional. We provided proof to our claims, which are being slowly and gradually confirmed by the independent observers. Our media and public were focused on the defense of our territory and the restoration of deterrence. There was no jingoism that was witnessed across Indian media.

Pakistan has always mentioned that war between two nuclear armed neighbors is an absurdity and it should not take place. However, what Pakistan Air Force did on the night of May 6-7, 2025, will be taught in the text books around the world on 21st century air combat. The way Pakistan carried out its full spectrum operations will be a stuff to study for the armies around the world in coming years. Defense circles around the world know what happened on those two nights and the details will soon start filtering in the public domain.

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Asima Rabbani is Ambassador-Designate of Pakistan to the Philippines.