Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has acknowledged that Islamabad reached out to both the United States and Saudi Arabia in a bid to calm rising tensions following India’s military action, termed Operation Sindoor. His revelation underscores an unprecedented level of third‑party diplomacy as regional rivals edged toward conflict.
Dar disclosed that India’s offensive struck strategic Pakistani military installations, specifically the Nur Khan airbase near Rawalpindi and the Shorkot airbase, just as Pakistan was preparing its own counter‑strikes. The timing and precision of New Delhi’s operation caught Pakistan off-guard, prompting Islamabad to appeal for mediation.
Geopolitical watchers note that Pakistan’s appeal went beyond traditional Western channels. Dar recounted that within 45 minutes of the incursion, Saudi Prince Faisal bin Salman phoned him directly, offering to convey Pakistan’s readiness to de-escalate to the Indian external affairs minister. “Saudi Prince Faisal bin Salman called and asked if he could tell Jaishankar that Pakistan is ready to stop,” Dar told Geo News, revealing Riyadh’s behind-the-scenes role.
Dar also confirmed that the government sought assistance from Washington. The US State Department, under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, engaged with Foreign Minister Dar and Pakistan’s army chief, urging both sides to re-establish direct communications to prevent miscalculations—a move mirrored by Saudi diplomatic channels.
These disclosures contrast starkly with earlier statements from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and military authorities, who had maintained their own counter‑blows were decisive. Dar’s remarks, supported by Sharif’s later admission of BrahMos missile strikes on Rawalpindi airport, suggest instead that Pakistan was reacting defensively to India’s operation.
Further commentary from General Asim Munir, now promoted to field marshal, referenced a “new normal” of cross‑border precision strikes, characterising India’s tactics as a strategic recalibration rather than a limited retaliation.
Operation Sindoor, launched on 7 May in response to the Pahalgam terror attack—where 26 civilians were murdered—is understood to have targeted nine terrorist infrastructure sites. Pakistan denied that military bases were struck, but Dar’s acknowledgement confirms otherwise, reshaping the narrative surrounding the strike’s impact.
The diplomatic backchannel efforts involving Saudi Arabia mark a shift in Pakistan’s crisis response. Previously, mediation in South Asia was largely bilateral or Western-led. Riyadh’s direct engagement signals its rising influence in facilitating regional security dialogues.
In May, amid escalating tit‑for‑tat missile exchanges, a ceasefire was agreed on 10 May via a hotline between India and Pakistan’s military directors. That truce was achieved through global diplomatic intervention, with major powers including the US, China and Saudi Arabia urging restraint.
Dar’s account reframes the episode: rather than asserting military success, Pakistan found itself appealing for outside intervention to halt operations. The disclosures raise profound questions about the role of middle powers like Saudi Arabia in South Asian conflict dynamics. They also highlight how precision military action can swiftly alter the calculus for regional rivals, pushing them toward international mediation over domestic reprisal.
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