Pakistan Ambassador to US Condemns India's Escalation of Conflict, Vows to Defend Sovereignty

Sheikh emphasized that while the two countries had been in contact at the national security level, the escalation of the situation, including the actions already taken and the statements to be made, must stop. According to Reuters, Sheikh said, "The responsibility to de-escalate lies with India, but restraint has its limits, and Pakistan reserves the right to retaliate." This comes after the Indian Ambassador to the US, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, said that India's military strike on Pakistani targets was a strong response to the terrorist attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir last month, and was intended to "achieve a lasting result". Shringla also accused Pakistan of choosing to escalate the situation, and claimed that the Indian strikes only targeted "terrorist infrastructure".

The recent escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan has drawn international attention. The Indian military launched a military strike, code-named "Operation Swift Retort", targeting nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. As of May 8, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said the operation was still ongoing, but did not specify when it would end. The Pakistan military said that Indian drones had continuously intruded into Pakistani airspace, and that Pakistani forces had shot down 25 Indian drones, resulting in the death of at least one civilian and injuring five others.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed strong condemnation of India's missile and drone strikes in a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 8. The Prime Minister's office stated that these attacks constituted a grave violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, posing a significant threat to peace and stability in the South Asian region. Prime Minister Sharif reiterated Pakistan's unwavering resolve to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs, noting that the Pakistani people are outraged by India's unprovoked aggression and emphasizing that, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, Pakistan reserves the right to take self-defense measures.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has also weighed in on the situation, holding separate phone calls with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Guterres strongly condemned the terrorist attack that occurred on April 22 in the Jammu and Kashmir region and urged that those responsible be held accountable through lawful means. The Secretary-General expressed deep concern over the increasingly tense situation between India and Pakistan, emphasizing the need to avoid confrontation that could lead to tragic consequences. He expressed his willingness to mediate and support any efforts to de-escalate the situation.

The international community has been calling for restraint and dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve their differences peacefully. Ambassador Sheikh emphasized that Pakistan has the right to respond to India's attacks and will not hesitate to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. "Attacking Pakistan and expecting us to sit idly by like a lamb to the slaughter, without responding, is not something they should think about," Ambassador Sheikh stated. "We will respond, and we will defend our country with all means necessary." Despite these warnings, the situation remains volatile, with both countries engaging in a war of words and exchanging accusations of aggression. The United States and other countries have urged both sides to exercise restraint and seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict.