Pakistan on Monday said that India violated the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by conveying a flood warning through diplomatic channels instead of the mandated Indus Waters Commission.

A Foreign Office spokesperson stated that New Delhi alerted Islamabad about potential flooding in the Tawi River at Jammu on August 24, but did so via its High Commission in Islamabad rather than the treaty’s institutional framework.

“This communication was not made under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, but through diplomatic means, which constitutes a breach of international law,” the spokesperson said.

The Foreign Office added that India must ensure full compliance with all provisions of the treaty, warning that its suspension or unilateral deviations could have “serious negative implications for peace in South Asia“.

Sources confirmed that Pakistan issued immediate warnings after receiving India’s alert at 10am on August 24.

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 with World Bank mediation, governs the use of rivers between the two neighbours and has withstood multiple conflicts.

The latest development comes months after India unilaterally suspended participation in the IWT following the Pahalgam incident.

However, the Indian action was rebuffed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which ruled in favour of Pakistan, affirming that India cannot undermine the treaty’s jurisdiction.

Following the ruling, Pakistan reiterated its call for India to resume normal treaty operations and abide by its international commitments.

Pakistan on Friday categorically rejected what it called “baseless and irresponsible statements” made by Indian political leaders in the Lok Sabha regarding the so-called “Operation Sindhoor,” reiterating that such rhetoric only fuels instability in South Asia.

Foreign Office spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, addressing the weekly press briefing, said, “The world knows that India carried out attacks on Pakistani territory without a shred of credible evidence.

The so-called strikes on alleged terrorist sites led to the martyrdom of innocent civilians.

India failed to avail itself of Pakistan’s immediate offer for a joint probe into the Pahalgam incident, which speaks volumes about the falsity of their claims.“

Khan underscored that Pakistan’s defence capabilities remain a strong deterrent against any adventurism by India.

“For us, the only path to normalcy lies in mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and adherence to international laws and UN charters. India’s continued reliance on jingoism, chest-thumping, and empty rhetoric is jeopardising regional peace and stability,” he added.

The spokesperson also dismissed recent remarks by the Indian Home Minister on the Indus Waters Treaty, saying such “displaced assertions carry no legal weight and cannot alter established international agreements.”

Reaffirming Pakistan’s position on terrorism, Khan stated: “Groups like BLA and TTP are recognised as terrorist organisations. Evidence shows they are being funded and facilitated from across the border. We have consistently raised this matter with Afghan authorities and expect decisive action.”

On relations with India, he said Pakistan remained open to dialogue based on mutual respect and international law but would continue to vigorously defend its sovereignty against any false narratives or hostile actions.

“Our message is clear: baseless claims and militaristic posturing will not bring peace to South Asia. Only diplomacy and adherence to international norms can pave the way forward,” the spokesperson concluded.

India will launch a $234 million incentive programme for civil and military drone makers to reduce their reliance on imported components and counter rival Pakistan’s programme built on support from China and Turkey, three sources told Reuters.

India’s push to build more home-grown drones stems from its assessment of the four-day clash with Pakistan in May that marked the first time New Delhi and Islamabad utilized unmanned aerial vehicles at scale against each other. The nuclear-armed neighbours are now locked in a drones arms race.

New Delhi will launch a 20 billion Indian rupees ($234 million) programme for three years that will cover manufacture of drones, components, software, counter drone systems, and services, two government and one industry source, who did not want to be named, told Reuters.

Details of the programme have not been previously reported and its planned expenditure is higher than the modest 1.2 billion rupees production-linked incentive scheme New Delhi launched in 2021 to promote drone start-ups, which have struggled to raise capital and invest in research.

India’s civil aviation ministry, which is leading the incentives programme, and defence ministry did not immediately respond to e-mails seeking comment.

Reuters previously reported that India plans to invest heavily in local industry and could spend as much as $470 million on unmanned aerial vehicles over the next 12 to 24 months, in what government and military officers said would be a staggered approach.

In the past, India has mainly imported military drones from its third-largest arms supplier, Israel, but in recent years its nascent drone industry has scaled up its cost-effective offerings, including for the military, although reliance on China continues for certain components such as motors, sensors and imaging systems.

Through the incentives, India is aiming to have at least 40% of key drone components made in the country by the end of fiscal year 2028 (April-March), the two government sources said.

“During (the India-Pakistan) conflict there was quite a lot of use of drones, loitering munitions and kamikaze drones on both sides,” Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said last week.

“The lesson that we’ve learned is that we need to double down on our indigenisation efforts to ensure that we build a large, effective, military drone manufacturing ecosystem.”

India bans import of drones but not their components and the government has planned additional incentives for manufacturers that procure parts from within the country, the two government sources said.

The state-run Small Industries Development Bank of India would also support the incentive programme by providing cheap loans for working capital, research and development needs for the firms, the government sources added.

Currently, there are more than 600 drone manufacturing and associated companies in India, according to estimates shared by an industry source involved in the discussions for the incentives programme.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday said that Pakistan’s stance was recognised and upheld during the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where India was unable to assert its position.

Speaking to a private news channel, the minister said that Pakistan’s position was based on facts and justice, which is why it was acknowledged at the SCO platform, despite Indian efforts.

He strongly criticised India for what he called “water terrorism”, accusing New Delhi of attempting to hold 240 million Pakistanis hostage by manipulating shared water resources.

“No party has the right to unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, which remains binding under international law,” he emphasised.

Answering a question, he said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political future is in decline, especially after India’s failure on the military and diplomatic fronts. He further said that Modi was trying to salvage political respect through fabricated narratives.

“After repeated setbacks, Modi’s era of misleading the public is coming to an end,” he stated.

While conflict raged between the powerful militaries of India and Pakistan, a battle was also fought on the cultural front lines despite years of shared love for films and music.

The deadly fighting in early May – the worst in decades – affected artists previously untouched by animosity between their leaders.

Ali Gul Pir, a Pakistani rapper and comedian with a huge Indian following, released a song years ago mocking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While he was spared consequences then, in May his YouTube channel and Instagram profile were blocked in India.

“Indians now recognise that the digital space serves as a bridge between Pakistanis and Indians, and they seem intent on severing that connection,” Pir told AFP.

The collapse in bilateral relations was caused by a deadly April attack on tourists in Indian-occupied Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad.

Pakistan denied the allegation and, after tit-for-tat diplomatic retaliation, their militaries fought for four days before a ceasefire was reached.

The conflict hit the music industry for the first time, with Pakistani singer Annural Khalid also remembering how her Indian following dropped off.

“Delhi was my top listening city before the ban,” said Khalid, who has 3.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

“I suffered a great loss in the audience” from India, she told AFP.

“Listeners were deprived of content because music was turned into something it is not,” Khalid added.

The conflict also scrubbed out some prior exchanges, such as the soundtrack of the 2017 film Raees on Spotify in India.

It now shows only Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan, without his Pakistani co-star Mahira Khan.

‘The same traumas’

With Pakistan producing just a handful of movies each year, Bollywood has always proven popular among viewers.

“I grew up watching Bollywood. We have the same traumas, we have the same history, we have the same stories,” said Pakistani film critic Sajeer Shaikh.

Pakistani actors and directors have for decades seen making it to Bollywood as the ultimate recognition.

But this month, Indian star Diljit Dosanjh announced his latest movie, Sardaar Ji 3, which features four Pakistani actors, would be released “overseas only”, after New Delhi banned Pakistani content and artists from productions.

“Abir Gulaal*, a love story starring Pakistan’s Fawad Khan and Indian actor Vaani Kapoor, was scheduled to hit Indian cinemas on May 9, but the release was postponed.

Even some in the industry who had previously backed the cross-border artistic trade changed their tune last month.

“Everything should be banned… cricket, films, everything,” said Indian actor Suniel Shetty, who has a big fan following in Pakistan.

He starred in the 2004 movie “Main Hoon Na*, which subtly promotes peace between India and Pakistan.

“It’s something really unfortunate about politics, creating that rift and putting boundaries around art,” said Dua Zahra, assistant manager at Warner Bros South Asia’s music label in Pakistan.

‘Let’s just make art’

As part of its measures in the wake of the Kashmir attack, New Delhi’s ban on some Pakistani YouTube channels included private broadcaster HUM TV.

The channel, which says around 40 per cent of its viewers are from India, simply told its fans to use a VPN to continue watching.

Since Modi took office more than a decade ago, many Indian critics and filmmakers have warned that Bollywood is now increasingly promoting his government’s Hindu nationalist ideology.

While the conflict has created divisions on the cultural scene, there are signs that the trade will endure.

Over a month after the ceasefire, three Indian films were in the top 10 on Netflix Pakistan, while the top 20 trending songs in India included two Pakistani tracks.

Pir, the rapper and comedian, vowed to “bridge gaps”.

“Let’s not make war, let’s just make art,” he said.

“Let’s just not bomb each other.”

Following recent US air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, a surge of fake news and misinformation has emerged on social media, falsely alleging Pakistani military cooperation in the attacks.

Pakistani security sources and the Foreign Office have categorically denied these reports, labelling them baseless propaganda.

False claims, particularly from anti-state and foreign social media accounts, including Indian handles, have circulated widely — most notably a post by the account @rkmtimes on platform X, alleging that Pakistan allowed its airspace, waters, and military facilities to be used by US bombers, warships, and submarines.

These allegations have been strongly rejected by Pakistan’s official sources.

Security officials clarified that neither the US nor Israel used Pakistan’s air, land, or maritime routes in the June 21–22 operations.

The Foreign Office reaffirmed this stance and reminded the public of Pakistan’s official condemnation of the attacks, which was issued shortly after the incident.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also emphasized Pakistan’s clear and consistent policy of not participating in foreign wars, military alliances, or bloc politics.

It stressed that Pakistan fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, and supports Iran’s right to self-defence under the UN Charter.

“Pakistan has made its position unambiguous: it will not become a party to any external military conflict,” said a senior security source.

“We remain committed to peace and regional stability.”

In response to the evolving crisis, Pakistan is actively engaging with all relevant parties and international stakeholders to promote de-escalation and diplomatic solutions.

The Foreign Office noted that Pakistan is advocating for a durable, dignified, and mutually acceptable peace, warning that continued escalation could trigger widespread instability across the region.

“Peace must be given a chance — not through force, but through dialogue and diplomacy,” the Foreign Office said.

“Pakistan believes that every conflict must ultimately be resolved at the negotiation table, and time is of the essence to prevent a broader crisis.”

The Government of Pakistan has formally recommended US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his decisive diplomatic intervention that helped prevent a full-scale war between Pakistan and India during a recent period of heightened tensions.

According to an official statement, President Trump played a leadership role in defusing a critical conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

“His timely and strategic diplomacy averted escalation and restored balance in the region,” the government noted, calling it a contribution deserving of global recognition.

The statement recalled that the international community had witnessed India’s unprovoked and unlawful aggression, which was a grave violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and regional peace.

The attack caused civilian casualties, including women and children.

In response, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, a calculated and resolute military action intended to re-establish the balance of power and protect territorial integrity. Islamabad credited President Trump for quickly establishing communication with both New Delhi and Islamabad, helping to defuse tensions through dialogue.

His intervention, Pakistan emphasized, showed a genuine commitment to resolving disputes through peaceful means.

The government further highlighted Trump’s offer to mediate the Kashmir issue, stating that such initiatives reflect “visionary leadership.”

The statement said that the Government of Pakistan appreciates President Trump’s offer to help resolve the Kashmir issue.

The Jammu and Kashmir issue is the epicenter of regional instability, it said, adding that sustainable peace and stability in South Asia will not be achieved until the Security Council resolutions on the Kashmir issue are implemented.

The statement expressed hope that Trump will continue to play a constructive role in promoting global stability, including efforts to address ongoing crises in Gaza, the broader Middle East, and escalating tensions with Iran.

Meanwhile, during a media interaction in New Jersey, Donald Trump commented on the Pakistan-India ceasefire, saying, “I should get the Nobel Peace Prize for stopping that war.”

He also took a jab at the Nobel selection process, saying, “They only give it to liberals. They won’t give it to me.”

Trump also hinted at the possibility of a trade deal with both Pakistan and India, suggesting further engagement in South Asian affairs.

Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt-General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has stated that the success of the Bunyan-um-Marsoos operation symbolizes the triumph of peace and reaffirmed that Pakistan has always prioritized peace over war.

He emphasized that Pakistan will continue to play the role of a “Net Regional Stabilizer” in the region.

The remarks came during a special interactive session with students of the Saylani IT Programme in Karachi, where the DG ISPR was warmly received.

Students engaged with the Pakistan Army spokesperson on a range of topics, including Pakistan’s internal and external security challenges.

“You are the frontline in the information war,” said Lt-Gen. Ahmed Sharif, acknowledging the role of youth in countering misinformation and shaping narratives.

He added that Pakistan’s armed forces are disciplined and professional, operating strictly within the constitutional framework and under state directives.

He reiterated the military’s role in regional security, affirming, “Pakistan will continue to act as a net regional stabilizer.”

During the session, students expressed their patriotism and readiness to support the armed forces on any front.

“We are prepared to make any sacrifice for our country. The Pakistan Army is our identity, and we — the people — are its true strength,” one student said.

The students praised the session and thanked the DG ISPR for his time and insights, calling for more such engagements in the future.

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi told US President Donald Trump that India would never accept third-party mediation in its conflict with Pakistan, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Wednesday.

Modi made the statement during a 35-minute-long telephone conversation with Trump, Misri said.

“Prime Minister Modi made it clear to President Trump that India would not engage in any trade negotiations amid ongoing terrorist threats, and that India’s fight against terrorism would continue,” Misri said.

Misri stated that the Prime Minister made it clear that India would not engage in any trade agreements while focused on counter-terrorism operations.

Prime Minister Modi emphasized that India’s strong response forced Pakistan to seek a de-escalation through established military communication lines, without any involvement from external mediators.

He firmly told President Trump that the United States played no role in any mediation efforts, reaffirming that India has never accepted—and will never accept—third-party mediation in issues related to Pakistan.

The head of Pakistan’s parliamentary delegation Bilawal Bhutto on Saturday said that Pakistan wanted permanent peace in South Asia, resolution of the Kashmir issue, water problems and terrorism through composite dialogue, but India was not ready in this regard.

Addressing a press conference in Brussels, the PPP chairman called upon the international community to play its role and to engage with India and emphasise that military confrontation was not a solution to the Kashmir dispute or terrorism, stressing that dialogue was the only way forward.

It was a moral obligation, he said, adding that the international community should play its part in encouraging both sides to engage in dialogue through diplomacy for peace in the region, adding that Pakistan wanted bilateral composite dialogue to tackle the issues on table.

“Escalation is not a solution to the issues between the two nuclear states,” Bilawal stressed.

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The former foreign minister said that Pakistan was desirous of durable peace in the sub-continent, but not the escalation or weaponisation of water.

The United States was willing to mediate on the Kashmir dispute, but India had always adopted a non-serious attitude to sort out problems with Pakistan, he highlighted.

He said that following the standoff with India, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif nominated a parliamentary delegation to advocate for peace in the region through engaging with the international community by urging them to play a role in defusing tension between two countries.

“We believe that there is no military solution to Kashmir, terrorism and water issues between India and Pakistan. During the five days of misadventures between the two nuclear powers, the international community took serious steps to arrange a ceasefire between the two countries,” the PPP chairman added.

He said that the Kashmir dispute had been pending on the agenda of the UN for many decades.

He urged the UN to make the Kashmir issue a topmost agenda for its peaceful settlement.

Following the terrorists’ attacks in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), he said, the prime minister publicly offered an impartial investigation into the Pahalgam incident but India said no.

Bilawal Bhutto said that India illegally and unilaterally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) to cut the water supply of Pakistan, which was a clear violation of the UN charter.

He said that the IWT was the only source of water for agriculture, the agricultural economy and termed its suspension as a threat to the country’s survival.

“Pakistan is acting on the threat; we consider it a war with no choice,” he added.

“We are here to present Pakistan’s stance on recent tensions with India and expose New Delhi’s anti-Pakistan agenda,” Bilawal said.

He emphasised that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute must be resolved in line with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The press conference was also attended by Pakistan’s parliamentary delegation, including Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik, PPP senator Shery Rehman, former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar and former minister Khurram Dastagir and others.

The head of the Pakistan parliamentary delegation and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called on the international community Friday to engage with India and emphasize that military confrontation is not a solution to the Kashmir dispute or terrorism, stressing that dialogue is the only way forward.

Speaking to the European think tanks and international media representatives in Brussels, Bilawal warned that India’s aggressive posture, including threats to revoke the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), could escalate tensions to dangerous levels.

“We are here to present Pakistan’s stance on recent tensions with India and expose New Delhi’s anti-Pakistan agenda,” he said.

He emphasised that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute must be resolved in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Bilawal criticised India’s “new abnormal” policy of blaming Pakistan for any terrorist attack in India or Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir without evidence, leading to immediate threats of war.

He recalled that Pakistan had proposed an impartial international investigation into the recent Pahalgam incident, but India rejected the offer.

He condemned India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, calling it a violation of international law and a “war crime” that threatens water access for 240 million Pakistanis. “If India weaponises water, we may have no choice but to retaliate, risking a full-blown water war,” he warned.

Bilawal reiterated that Pakistan had shown restraint, offered dialogue, and adhered to international law, urging the same standards be applied in South Asia as in Europe. “If the world ignores this crisis, it could become a nuclear flashpoint,” he cautioned.

On the Pahalgam attack, Bilawal stated that India had failed to provide evidence linking Pakistan to the incident. “To this day, India hasn’t revealed the identities of the attackers or how they crossed the heavily militarised border,” he said, accusing India of violating Pakistan’s sovereignty with its recent airstrikes.

Bilawal urged Europe and the global community to intervene before tensions spiral out of control, warning that inaction could lead to another war between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Taking part in the briefing, Pakistan Climate Change Minister Dr Musadik Malik said India jeopardising international water agreements by threatening to revoke the IWT.

India’s unilateral cancellation of IWT, set a dangerous precedent, undermining all water treaties worldwide, Malik said.

He warned that if India blocks Pakistan’s water share, no nation could trust future water-sharing agreements.

The minister criticised India’s approach, stating, “India is not just mocking Pakistan but the entire world. No country will be able to rely on water treaties if this violation goes unchecked.”

Malik urged the international community to take immediate notice of India’s actions, warning that disregarding the IWT could lead to broader instability in transboundary water management.

Meanwhile, Senator Sherry Rehman, calling the Indus “the lifeline of Pakistan,” emphasised that it is the only major river basin sustaining the country’s agriculture and supplying water to nearly all population centres.

She noted that Pakistan shares this essential water source with India, a larger upper riparian state, under the framework of the Indus Waters Treaty—an agreement that has endured for decades but now faces rising strain due to escalating water-related challenges.

“Pakistan is already facing severe water stress in many regions,” Rehman said, warning that some provinces are grappling with acute scarcity that directly impacts crop production and livelihoods.

She pointed to India’s unilateral water diversions and illegal upstream infrastructure as serious concerns, stating that such actions significantly reduce the river’s downstream flow.

“This not only jeopardises irrigation but also disrupts the river’s natural flow into the sea,” she added.

“When that flow is blocked, it leads to waterlogging and ultimately renders fertile land infertile land we can no longer sow.”

Rehman underscored the growing risk of water becoming a regional flashpoint, cautioning against politicising the issue.

The high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by Pakistan People’s Party Chairman and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, on Tuesday briefed the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Indian aggression and violations of Pakistan’s sovereignty.

During a meeting hosted by the APPG on Pakistan Chair Yasmin Qureshi MP, at Westminster Palace, which was attended by the cross-party British parliamentarians, Bhutto categorically rejected the baseless Indian allegations leveled against Pakistan without any credible investigation or verifiable evidence.

The delegation is a part of Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic outreach to the international community on the deteriorating regional security situation due to Indian aggression against Pakistan after the Pahalgam incident.

The delegation head highlighted that the Indian attack on the civilian population, violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and unilateral holding in abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty – in blatant violation of International law and the modern rules-based system – could have dangerous consequences for the regional and international peace and security.

Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik apprised the parliamentarians of the environmental hazards of holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance by India, threats to food security and survival of 240 million population of Pakistan, primarily an agrarian economy.

The delegation emphasized that Pakistan’s response to Indian aggression was calibrated, responsible and fully consistent with international law, including the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

The delegation underscored Pakistan’s commitment to restraint, revival of the Indus Waters Treaty and initiation of a composite dialogue between the two countries on all outstanding issues, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

A Pakistani delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, comprising former Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and Senator Sherry Rehman, Friday asserted that India’s narrative has crumbled under global scrutiny, stressing that contentious issues like Kashmir demand meaningful dialogue to forge lasting resolutions.

Senator Sherry Rehman cautioned India in an exclusive conversation with a private news channel that failure to engage in dialogue would lead to dire consequences and that the country has already faced the consequences of its previous actions.

Pakistan is a peace-loving nation that is acting with maturity, and any rash actions by India will have consequences, Senator Sherry Rehman said.

According to Jalil Abbas Jilani, Pakistan’s narrative is winning global support, leaving dialogue as the sole viable option for India’s Modi government.

He stressed that India and Pakistan should engage in dialogue to resolve disputes over Kashmir and water issues, noting that India is already experiencing setbacks across the board.

He emphasized that Pakistan’s narrative resonating globally and earning appreciation is a major achievement and a marker of success.

Both members of the delegation lauded Bilawal Bhutto’s diplomatic initiatives and expressed their confidence that India’s stance is currently embroiled in difficulties.

Pakistan’s top diplomatic delegate, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has warned that India is pushing future generations toward water conflict, emphasising that if another war breaks out, “there won’t be time for intervention like Trump’s.”

Speaking at the Middle East Institute in Washington, the former foreign minister and head of the Pakistani delegation said that India is violating the water rights of 240 million Pakistanis by manipulating river flows — a move that could provoke serious regional instability.

“If India refuses to engage in dialogue, how can issues be resolved?” Bhutto Zardari asked, asserting that Pakistan stands ready for peace talks but India’s continued denial will only deepen tensions. He stressed that mutual trade between Pakistan and India could benefit both nations, but cooperation is impossible without open communication.

Commenting on past escalations, Bilawal rejected any Pakistani involvement in the Pulwama incident, saying, “Even Indian leaders now admit Kashmir is a bilateral dispute.” He referred to US acknowledgement of Kashmir as a global issue and emphasised the importance of neutral international investigations, which Pakistan has repeatedly offered.

Pakistan’s parliamentary delegation concludes UN visit, spotlights Kashmir, Water issues

“India has attacked Pakistan under false accusations. The UN and global powers must take a stronger stance against India’s aggression,” he urged, adding that Kashmir must be resolved to achieve lasting peace in South Asia.

He also accused India of interfering in Pakistan’s internal affairs, including backing banned outfits like the BLA and TTP. “How will problems be solved if India refuses to talk?” he concluded.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that the recent armed conflict between Pakistan and India which lasted for four days, established the fact that ‘Pahalgam incident was a false flag operation’.

Had this been something different what he was stating, India should have come out with solid evidences and convinced the world about the occurrence of the incident, he said.

Addressing a ceremony held at the US Embassy in connection with celebration of 249th anniversary of the US Independence and telecast live on national Tv channels, he said that at Kakul Academy event, he had offered an international credible and transparent probe into Pahlagam incident so that the world should see and sift through reality and fiction.

“Our sincere offer was responded with aggression but Pakistan showed a lot of tolerance and a lot of patience,” he said, adding on May 6-7, 33 Pakistanis were martyred in the Indian aggression, including children and elders and scores others injured.

The prime minister said Pakistan in its right to self-defense shot down six Indian planes. At that time, US friends who were in touch with them, conveyed that Pakistan had responded and it was enough, and that peace and ceasefire should be restored.

He reiterated that Pakistan was always committed to peace and de-escalation but India had attacked them despite the fact that he had offered a very genuine offer for de-escalation.

The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, ministers, parliamentarians and members of the diplomatic corps.

Appreciating the role of US President Trump in ensuring ceasefire, the prime minister said that he had shown beyond any doubt that he ‘is a man for peace, he is a man for promoting peace and beneficial business deals.’

“President Trump is a man against escalation and a man against cold and hot war,” he said, adding that Trump believed in humanity to live in tranquility and contribute towards progress and prosperity not particularly in one region but globally as manifested in his statements, in the last few weeks.

The US president had advised both Pakistan and India to go for trade, investment and give up war and de-escalate, he added.

The prime minister appreciated Trump’s contribution to bring about ceasefire in this region.

He also lauded the role of the friendly and brotherly countries of the Middle East that proactively coordinated and supported Trump’s genuine efforts and expressed the hope that that it would be a long-lasting ceasefire.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also extended heartfelt felicitations to US President Trump and people of the US, on his behalf and on behalf of the Pakistani nation, on celebrating their Independence Day.

He expressed that the bilateral ties between US-Pakistan were entering into renewed friendship, and the close contacts were coming back again.

Tonight, Pakistani nation joined the US people in paying homage to the US founding fathers, whose foresight and wisdom had changed the course of history, he said, adding that their democratic struggle, rule of constitution and equality equally resonating with the ideals of Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan.

The prime minister also mentioned the Pak- US enjoyed historic, long standing and broad-based ties spanning over centuries. The US had supported Pakistan with construction of dams and other development projects.

After 9/11, Pakistan faced a war on terror, its valiant forces and people laid down their lives and during the year 2018, they had comprehensively defeated terrorism.

About 90,000 valuable lives were lost, besides the country suffered economic losses worth $150 billion, he said, adding there could not be a bigger manifestation of their commitment and resolve to fight terror in all its shades and colours.

The prime minister further said that Pakistan had revived and strengthened its economy and always spoke for peace, progress and prosperity, not only in the region, but all over the world.

He expressed the hope that Pak-US bilateral trade would grow in volumes in the fields of IT, agriculture, education, health etc as both countries were discussing the tariff issue.

He said that he was really inspired by Trump’s vision for trade, investment and growth.

A high-level Parliamentary delegation, led by Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, concluded a two-day visit to the United Nations Headquarters in New York with a clear message that “Pakistan desires peaceful, cooperative relations with all its neighbours based on equality and mutual respect – but will not accept aggression, impunity, or violation of international norms”.

During the visit, the delegation met with the UN Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Security Council, representatives of the Security Council’s Permanent and Non-Permanent Members, Ambassadors of the OIC Group, representatives of the media, civil society, and think tanks, and the Pakistani community.

The visit was part of Pakistan’s international outreach to present its perspective on the escalating regional tensions and threat to international peace and security, emanating from India’s irresponsible behaviour, unprovoked aggression against Pakistan, belligerent rhetoric, and its unlawful unilateral decision to hold into abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) – a lifeline for over 240 million Pakistanis. The delegation carried Pakistan’s core message of “Peace with Responsibility.”

In these engagements, the delegation drew attention to India’s illegal use of force and violations of international law, including the UN Charter and International Humanitarian Law, particularly targeting of civilian areas and killing of innocent civilians, including women and children.

The delegation rejected India’s baseless allegations regarding the 22 April terrorist attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir without a shred of evidence, and warned against India’s weaponisation of water through its unilateral hold on the IWT in violation of international law and treaty obligations.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations, the delegation highlighted Pakistan’s crucial role and sacrifices in the success of the global counter-terrorism efforts, while also drawing attention of the international community towards Indian-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan, and its transnational assassination campaign. Cooperation, not politicisation, was required to effectively combat the menace of terrorism, it was underlined.

The delegation emphasized Pakistan’s responsible, restrained and lawful response to Indian aggression and provocations, underlining that Pakistan seeks peace but will always defend its sovereignty with resolve. It warned that India’s attempts to create a “new normal” that implied arbitrary and unilateral strikes could lead to disastrous consequences in South Asia’s nuclear environment and must be firmly resisted by the international community.

The delegation reiterated that durable peace in South Asia hinges on a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in line with UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

The international community was urged to uphold international law and the sanctity of treaties, push for the revival and normal functioning of the Indus Waters Treaty, and support the initiation of a comprehensive dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.

The delegation comprised the members including Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Masood Malik; Chairperson, Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and former Minister for Information and Climate Change, Senator Sherry Rehman; Chairperson, National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar; former Minister for Commerce, Defence and Foreign Affairs, Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan; former Minister for Maritime Affairs, Senator Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari; Senator Bushra Anjum Butt; former Foreign Secretary and Caretaker Foreign Minister, Ambassador (R) Jalil Abbas Jilani; and former Foreign Secretary, Ambassador (R) Tehmina Janjua.

The high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by PPP Chairman and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, briefed members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the UN on the grave developments in South Asia following India’s military aggression and its baseless accusations against Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack.

Addressing the OIC Permanent Representatives, Bilawal categorically rejected India’s attempt to link Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident without any credible investigation or evidence, according to a press release issued by Pakistan Mission to the UN.

He also highlighted that the hasty attribution of blame was used as a pretext for unlawful military actions, including cross-border strikes, which targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Bilawal expressed grave concern at the unilateral suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty a move that Pakistan considers a blatant act of weaponizing water and a violation of international and treaty obligations.

He made it clear that Pakistan cannot allow this to become a new normal. He stressed that due to India’s belligerent aggression, the world had become a less safe place, with real and present implications for peace and security in South Asia.

The former foreign minister thanked the OIC countries for their efforts and role aimed at de-escalation, mediation and ceasefire. He underscored that the only path to peace is dialogue, engagement and diplomacy. Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peace, restraint, and diplomacy, he called for the restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty, full respect for the ceasefire, and the resumption of a comprehensive dialogue with India, with the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute at its core.

The delegation leader underlined that OIC has emerged as the moral conscience of the world in these difficult times and thanked the OIC member states for their steadfast support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains pivotal to the establishment of lasting peace in South Asia.

He urged the OIC member states to continue their principled support for the legitimate rights of the Kashmiri people, particularly their right to self-determination as enshrined in UN Security Council resolutions.

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The Permanent Representatives of OIC countries expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s transparent and timely briefing and reaffirmed their solidarity with Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, according to the press release.

They reiterated their concern over the worsening security situation in South Asia and stressed the importance of upholding the principles of the UN Charter and international law, and in this regard, the sanctity of treaties, including the Indus Water Treaty.

The OIC countries welcomed Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy for the resolution of all disputes, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

Pakistan on Monday denounced a recent wave of antagonistic rhetoric emanating from Indian political leaders and the Spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, calling it a “deeply troubling mindset” that undermines regional peace and stability.

Responding to media queries regarding the remarks made on May 29, particularly those voiced during political events in Bihar, the Foreign Office Spokesperson stated that India’s attempts to malign Pakistan were “divorced from reality” and indicative of a larger pattern of hostility over peace.

“Any attempt to portray Pakistan as the source of regional instability is not only misleading but also an attempt to obscure India’s own record, including documented support for terrorist activities inside Pakistan,” the spokesperson said adding that these facts cannot be obscured by hollow narratives or diversionary tactics.

The Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the core issue threatening peace and stability in the region, the spokesperson added.

He stressed that Pakistan will continue to stand firm in advocating for a just and lasting resolution to the Kashmir dispute in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. “To sidestep this fundamental issue is to condemn the region to continued mistrust and potential confrontation.”

The developments of recent weeks have once again underscored the utter futility of jingoism and coercion. India cannot and will not achieve its objectives through threats, misrepresentation, or force.

The FO spokesperson added that Pakistan remains committed to peace and constructive engagement, but it is equally resolved to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any aggression.

“Durable peace in South Asia requires maturity, restraint, and the courage to address the root causes of conflict—not short-sighted political posturing,” the spokesperson concluded.

India’s Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has acknowledged that the country did lose aircraft in the recent conflict with Pakistan.

During an interview with Bloomberg’s Haslinda Amin at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, General Anil Chauhan rejected Pakistan’s claims of having downed six Indian fighter jets, calling the assertion “absolutely incorrect.” He also said , “What is important is that, not the jet being down, but why they were being down,”

However, acknowledging aircraft losses, he emphasized “numbers are not important.”

Chauhan said that “the good part is that we are able to understand the tactical mistake which we made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days and flew all our jets again, targeting at long range”.

In another interview with news agency Reuters, Chauhan said India switched tactics after suffering losses in the air on the first day of conflict with Pakistan earlier this month.

In Reuters interview, too, General Anil Chauhan said that India suffered initial losses in the air, but declined to give details.

“What was important is, why did these losses occur, and what we’ll do after that,” he told Reuters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, referring to the Pakistani claim of downing jets.

The admission comes in the aftermath of heightened tensions triggered by a deadly terrorist attack on April 22 in Indian-administered Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. India attributed the attack to Pakistan-based militant groups and responded with cross-border airstrikes on May 7, targeting what it described as terrorist launch pads.

In response, Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes and claimed it had downed multiple Indian jets, including advanced Rafale fighters. Pakistani military sources stated that Chinese-built J-10C aircraft, armed with long-range PL-15 missiles, were instrumental in achieving air superiority during the skirmishes.

The hostilities culminated in a ceasefire agreement on May 10, brokered with diplomatic assistance from the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.

While both countries have since declared victory and scaled back active operations, tensions remain high along the Line of Control, and intermittent exchanges of fire have continued.

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The conflict has drawn sharp international scrutiny, not just for the regional instability it threatens to ignite, but also for the potential implications on global military procurement, given the involvement of high-end fighter jets like the Rafale and J-10C.

Pakistan and India are close to reducing the troop buildup along their border to levels before conflict erupted between the nuclear-armed neighbours this month, a top Pakistani military official told Reuters on Friday, although he warned the crisis had increased the risk of escalation in the future.

Both sides used fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery in four days of clashes, their worst fighting in decades, before a ceasefire was announced.

The spark for the latest fighting between the old enemies was an April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. New Delhi blamed the incident on “terrorists” backed by Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad.

On May 7, India launched missiles at what it said were “terrorist infrastructure” sites across the border and as Pakistan responded with its own attacks, both countries built up additional forces along the frontier.

General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Pakistan’s chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said the two militaries had started the process of drawing down troop levels.

“We have almost come back to the pre-22nd April situation… we are approaching that, or we must have approached that by now,” said Mirza, the most senior Pakistani military official to speak publicly since the conflict.

India’s ministry of defence and the office of the Indian chief of defence staff did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment on the remarks by Mirza.

Mirza, who is in Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue forum, said while there was no move towards nuclear weapons during this conflict, it was a dangerous situation.

“Nothing happened this time,” he said. “But you can’t rule out any strategic miscalculation at any time, because when the crisis is on, the responses are different.”

He also said the risk of escalation in the future had increased since the fighting this time was not limited to the disputed territory of Kashmir, the scenic region in the Himalayas that both nations rule in part but claim in full.

The two sides attacked military installations in their mainlands but neither has acknowledged any serious damage.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned Pakistan this month that New Delhi would target “terrorist hideouts” across the border again if there were new attacks on India.

‘DANGEROUS TREND’

The two countries have fought three major wars, two of them over Kashmir, and numerous armed skirmishes since both were born out of British colonial India in 1947.

India blames Pakistan for an insurgency in its part of Kashmir that began in 1989 and has killed tens of thousands. Pakistan says it provides only moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris seeking self-determination.

“This (conflict) lowers the threshold between two countries who are contiguous nuclear powers…in the future, it will not be restricted to the disputed territory. It would come down to (the) whole of India and (the) whole of Pakistan,” Mirza said. “This is a very dangerous trend.”

Reuters has reported that the rapid escalation of hostilities ended in part because of behind-the-scenes diplomacy involving the US, India and Pakistan, and the key role played by Washington in brokering peace.

India has denied any third-party role in the ceasefire and said that any engagement between India and Pakistan has to be bilateral.

But Mirza warned that international mediation might be difficult in the future because of a lack of crisis management mechanisms between the countries.

“The time window for the international community to intervene would now be very less, and I would say that damage and destruction may take place even before that time window is exploited by the international community,” he said.

Pakistan was open to dialogue, he added, but beyond a crisis hotline between the directors general of military operations and some hotlines at the tactical level on the border, there was no other communication between the two countries.

India’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday “talks and terror don’t go together” in response to a question on the possibility of dialogue with Pakistan.

Mirza said there were no backchannel discussions, or informal talks, to ease tensions.

He also said he had no plans to meet General Anil Chauhan, India’s chief of defence staff, who is also in Singapore for the Shangri-La forum.

“These issues can only be resolved by dialogue and consultations, on the table. They cannot be resolved on the battlefield,” Mirza said.

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Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday that Youm-e-Takbir was a day of renewing the pledge that Pakistan would give a befitting reply to any aggression and will never compromise on the country’s security and sovereignty.

Congratulating the nation on Youm-e-Takbir, Tarar said, in a statement, that May 28, 1998, was an important milestone in the history of Pakistan.

“On that day, the nation, under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, conducted six successful nuclear explosions in response to India’s five nuclear explosions, making the country’s defense invincible,” the minister remarked.

He further said that Youm-e-Takbir was not only a manifestation of the determination and independence of Pakistan’s scientific, military and political leadership, but this day was also a symbol of the fact that whenever the motherland faced a challenge, the nation stood together to give a befitting reply to the enemy.

“Today, Pakistan has once again proven that we can go to any extent to defend the country”, he added.

During the recent Indo-Pak stand off, he said under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan ruined the enemy’s nefarious designs.

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In 1998, under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan carried out six nuclear explosions in response to India’s five nuclear explosions, he said. Now, under the leadership of PM Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan has successfully shot down six Indian warplanes including Rafale aircraft.

He opined that this victory was part of the continuity that began in 1998 and continued with full force even today.

Pakistan’s defense was in strong hands, Attaullah Tarar said the nation had full confidence in its armed forces, scientists and political leadership.

A senior Pakistani diplomat has warned India that it will respond with “greater ferocity and resolve” if aggressed again as he drew attention of the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva to the recent hostilities between the two South Asian nations.

“South Asia does not need another crisis– It requires a future shaped by cooperation, not confrontation,” Ambassador Bilal Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN offices in Geneva, told the 65-member forum established by the international community to negotiate arm control and disarmament agreements. which began its session on Tuesday.

“If India chooses the path of aggression again, the consequences—and the responsibility—will lie entirely at its door,” he said, warning, “Pakistan will stand ready to meet any Indian aggression at every escalating level with greater ferocity and resolve”.

Pakistan, Ambassador Bilal Ahmad added, will adhere to the ceasefire, pointing out that it’s preference remains unchanged: constructive engagement, result-oriented dialogue, and the peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

He said that India’s illegal threat and use of force against a nuclear-armed neighbour, now in shape of the Indian leadership’s revisionist posture– the so-called “new normal — poses a serious threat to strategic stability in South Asia.

Indeed, India’s missile, drone, and air strikes on Pakistani territory earlier this month were part of a larger pattern aimed at “normalizing the idea that military strikes between nuclear-armed states are acceptable,” the Pakistani envoy told delegates.

“India seeks to normalize the idea that military strikes between nuclear-armed states are acceptable; that military losses are tolerable if the political narrative can be managed; that phantom victories can be claimed while real setbacks are denied—even when exposed by international media.”

The Ambassador cited a growing list of destabilizing developments: India’s deployment of nuclear weapons at sea, its testing of anti-satellite weapons, canisterization of missiles, and a shift toward a counterforce posture. These, he noted, were “not contours of credible minimum deterrence but preparation to project power far beyond South Asia.”

“For over a decade,” Ambassador Bilal Ahmad said, “Pakistan has warned this Conference of India’s hegemonic mindset and refusal to coexist peacefully with sovereign neighbors. This mindset has further hardened under the influence of the ruling Hindutva ideology that aims to reconstruct history, demography, and reshape geography.”

He emphasized that India’s recent actions were not isolated but part of a “strategic posture” that “thrives on reckless overconfidence in military imbalance,” driven by “unchecked violations of international law,” “hate-fueled populist rhetoric,” and “delusional expert analyses.”

“No other nuclear weapon state behaves with such recklessness,” the envoy asserted. “No nuclear-armed state fires high-speed, dual-capable missiles across international borders into the territory of another nuclear power.”

The statement also highlighted that India invokes the terrorism bogey to mask its geopolitical ambitions of projecting regional power and hegemony, using military force as a coercive tool of state policy.

In this regard, Ambassador Bilal Ahmad expressed concern over international permissiveness toward India’s buildup, citing how export control regimes had “bent their rules,” giving India access to sensitive technologies while holding Pakistan to “phantom commitments divorced from strategic realities.”

He called upon States engaged in defence cooperation with India to understand and recognize the consequences that the weapons and technologies they transfer to India today may well be used tomorrow in acts of aggression against civilians and in violations of IHL (International Humanitarian Law).

Ambassador Ahmad called on the international community to uphold the UN Charter and support diplomacy over confrontation, stressing that “South Asia does not need another crisis. It requires a future shaped by cooperation, not confrontation.”

Reacting to the Indian delegate’s reference to so-called “nuclear blackmail”, a Pakistani delegate said that such self-imposed claims are made to hide India’s own nuclear delinquency.

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India’s defence minister has approved a framework for building the country’s most advanced stealth fighter jet, the defence ministry said on Tuesday, amid a new arms race with Pakistan weeks after a military conflict between the neighbours.

Indian state-run Aeronautical Development Agency, which is executing the programme, will shortly invite initial interest from defence firms for developing a prototype of the warplane, envisaged as a twin-engine 5th generation fighter, the ministry said.

The project is crucial for the Indian Air Force, whose squadrons of mainly Russian and ex-Soviet aircraft have fallen to 31 from an approved strength of 42 at a time when rival China is expanding its air force rapidly.

Pakistan has one of China’s most advanced warplanes, the J-10, in its arsenal.

Militaries of nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan faced off in four days of fighting this month, which saw the use of fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery by both sides before a ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump.

It was the first time both sides utilised drones at scale and the South Asian powers are now locked in a drone arms race, according to Reuters’ interviews with 15 people, including security officials, industry executives and analysts in the two countries.

India will partner with a domestic firm for the stealth fighter programme, and companies can bid independently or as a joint venture, the defence ministry said in a statement, adding that the bids would be open for both private and state-owned firms.

In March, an Indian defence committee had recommended including the private sector in military aircraft manufacturing to shore up the capabilities of the Indian Air Force and reduce the burden on state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, which makes most of India’s military aircraft.

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has previously criticised Hindustan Aeronautics for the slow delivery of light combat Tejas aircraft, a 4.5 generation fighter, which the firm blamed on the slow delivery of engines from General Electric due to supply chain issues faced by the US firm.

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Pakistan on Tuesday said that the hate-driven invocation of violence in the recent remarks of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s was deeply disturbing, urging the international community to take serious note of India’s escalating rhetoric, undermining regional stability and the prospects for lasting peace.

“Pakistan has taken note of the recent remarks by the Prime Minister of India, delivered in Gujarat with the theatrical flourish of a campaign rally rather than the sobriety expected of the leader of a nuclear-armed state. The hate-driven invocation of violence in his remarks is deeply disturbing, not only for its content but for the dangerous precedent it sets in a region already burdened by volatility. We regret the continued erosion of maturity and decorum in Indian statecraft,” Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said in a statement.

He said that such statements blatantly violated the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, which obliged member states to resolve disputes peacefully and to refrain from the threat or use of force against the sovereignty or political independence of other states.

“Pakistan views these remarks as a reckless provocation, intended to distract from the ongoing human rights abuses and demographic engineering in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir.”

He said that Pakistan’s record as a leading contributor to UN peacekeeping and its consistent cooperation in global counter-terrorism efforts spoke louder than any hostile soundbite. If extremism is indeed a concern for the Indian government, it would do well to turn inward — toward the alarming rise of majoritarianism, religious intolerance, and the systematic disenfranchisement of minorities under the increasingly brutal Hindutva ideology, the spokesperson added.

He reiterated that Pakistan remained committed to peace based on mutual respect and sovereign equality. However, any threat to its security or territorial integrity will be met with firm and proportionate measures, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, he added.

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- A little after 8:00 pm on May 8, red flares streaked through the night sky over the northern Indian city of Jammu as its air-defence systems opened fire on drones from neighbouring Pakistan.

The Indian and Pakistani militaries have deployed high-end fighter jets, conventional missiles and artillery during decades of clashes, but the four days of fighting in May marked the first time New Delhi and Islamabad utilized unmanned aerial vehicles at scale against each other.

The fighting halted after the US announced it brokered a ceasefire, but the South Asian powers, which spent more than $96 billion on defence last year, are now locked in a drone arms race, according to Reuters interviews with 15 people, including security officials, industry executives, and analysts in the two countries.

Two of them said they expect increased use of UAVs by the nuclear-armed neighbours because small-scale drone attacks can strike targets without risking personnel or provoking uncontrollable escalation.

India plans to invest heavily in local industry and could spend as much as $470 million on UAVs over the next 12 to 24 months, roughly three times pre-conflict levels, said Smit Shah of Drone Federation India, which represents over 550 companies and regularly interacts with the government.

The previously unreported forecast, which came as India this month approved roughly $4.6 billion in emergency military procurement funds, was corroborated by two other industry executives. The Indian military plans to use some of that additional funding on combat and surveillance drones, according to two Indian officials familiar with the matter.

Defence procurement in India tends to involve years of bureaucratic processes but officials are now calling drone makers in for trials and demonstrations at an unprecedented pace, said Vishal Saxena, a vice president at Indian UAV firm ideaForge Technology (IDEF.NS).

The Pakistan Air Force, meanwhile, is pushing to acquire more UAVs as it seeks to avoid risking its high-end aircraft, said a Pakistani source familiar with the matter.

Pakistan and India both deployed cutting-edge generation 4.5 fighter jets during the latest clashes but cash-strapped Islamabad only has about 20 high-end Chinese-made J-10 fighters compared to the three dozen Rafales that Delhi can muster.

Pakistan is likely to build on existing relationships to intensify collaboration with China and Turkey to advance domestic drone research and production capabilities, said Oishee Majumdar of defence intelligence firm Janes.

Islamabad is relying on a collaboration between Pakistan’s National Aerospace Science and Technology Park and Turkish defence contractor Baykar that locally assembles the YIHA-III drone, the Pakistani source said, adding a unit could be produced domestically in between two to three days.

Pakistan’s military declined to respond to Reuters’ questions. The Indian defence ministry and Baykar did not return requests for comment.

India and Pakistan “appear to view drone strikes as a way to apply military pressure without immediately provoking large-scale escalation,” said King’s College London political scientist Walter Ladwig III.

“UAVs allow leaders to demonstrate resolve, achieve visible effects, and manage domestic expectations — all without exposing expensive aircraft or pilots to danger,” he added.

But such skirmishes are not entirely risk-free, and Ladwig noted that countries could also send UAVs to attack contested or densely populated areas where they might not previously have used manned platforms.

DRONE SWARMS AND VINTAGE GUNS

The fighting in May, which was the fiercest in this century between the neighbours, came after an April 22 militant attack in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Indian tourists.

Delhi blamed the killings on “terrorists” backed by Islamabad, which denied the charge. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed revenge and Delhi on May 7 launched air strikes on what it described as “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan.

The next night, Pakistan sent hordes of drones along a 1,700-kilometer (772-mile) front with India, with between 300 and 400 of them pushing in along 36 locations to probe Indian air defences, Indian officials have said.

Pakistan depended on Turkish-origin YIHA-III and Asisguard Songar drones, as well as the Shahpar-II UAV produced domestically by the state-owned Global Industrial & Defence Solutions conglomerate, according to two Pakistani sources.

But much of this drone deployment was cut down by Cold War-era Indian anti-aircraft guns that were rigged to modern military radar and communication networks developed by state-run Bharat Electronics (BAJE.NS), according to two Indian officials.

A Pakistan source denied that large numbers of its drones were shot down on May 8, but India did not appear to sustain significant damage from that drone raid.

India’s use of the anti-aircraft guns, which had not been designed for anti-drone-warfare, turned out to be surprisingly effective, said retired Indian Brig. Anshuman Narang, now an UAV expert at Delhi’s Centre for Joint Warfare Studies.

“Ten times better than what I’d expected,” he said.

India also sent Israeli HAROP, Polish WARMATE and domestically-produced UAVs into Pakistani airspace, according to one Indian and two Pakistan sources. Some of them were also used for precision attacks on what two Indian officials described as military and militant infrastructure.

The two Pakistani security sources confirmed that India deployed a large number of the HAROPs - a long-range loitering munition drone manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries.

Such UAVs, also known as suicide drones, stay over a target before crashing down and detonating on impact.

Pakistan set up decoy radars in some areas to draw in the HAROPs, or waited for their flight time to come towards its end, so that they fell below 3,000 feet and could be shot down, a third Pakistani source said.

Both sides claim to have notched victories in their use of UAVs.

India successfully targeted infrastructure within Pakistan with minimal risk to personnel or major platforms, said KCL’s Ladwig.

For Pakistan’s military, which claimed to have struck Indian defence facilities with UAVs, drone attacks allow it to signal action while drawing less international scrutiny than conventional methods, he noted.

CHEAP BUT WITH AN ACHILLES HEEL

Despite the loss of many drones, both sides are doubling down.

“We’re talking about relatively cheap technology,” said Washington-based South Asia expert Michael Kugelman. “And while UAVs don’t have the shock and awe effect of missiles and fighter jets, they can still convey a sense of power and purpose for those that launch them.”

Indian defence planners are likely to expand domestic development of loitering munitions UAVs, according to an Indian security source and Sameer Joshi of Indian UAV maker NewSpace, which is deepening its research and development on such drones.

“Their ability to loiter, evade detection, and strike with precision marked a shift toward high-value, low-cost warfare with mass produced drones,” said Joshi, whose firm supplies the Indian military.

And firms like ideaForge, which has supplied over 2,000 UAVs to the Indian security forces, are also investing on enhancing the ability of its drones to be less vulnerable to electronic warfare, said Saxena.

Another vulnerability that is harder to address is the Indian drone program’s reliance on hard-to-replace components from China, an established military partner of Pakistan, four Indian dronemakers and officials said.

India continues to depend on China-made magnets and lithium for UAV batteries, said Drone Federation India’s Shah.

“Weaponization of the supply chain is also an issue,” said ideaForge’s Saxena on the possibility of Beijing shutting the tap on components in certain situations.

For instance, Chinese restrictions on the sale of drones and components to Ukraine have weakened Kyiv’s ability to produce critical combat drones, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank.

A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry said in response to Reuters’ questions that Beijing has always implemented export controls on dual-use items in accordance with domestic laws and regulations as well as its international obligations.

“Diversification of supply chain is a medium to long term problem,” said Shah. “You can’t solve it in short term.”