Pakistan Ramps Up Diplomatic Outreach Amid Rising Tensions with India; Claims Indian Drone Activity Aimed at Reconnaissance
In the wake of rapidly escalating hostilities with India, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif addressed the National Assembly on Friday, stating that Islamabad has intensified its diplomatic outreach to key regional and international partners in a concerted effort to reduce tensions and avoid further military escalation.
According to Asif, the Pakistani government is in constant communication with a number of influential nations, including Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China, and Qatar.
These ongoing dialogues, he emphasized, are part of a sustained effort to restore regional stability and prevent the situation from spiraling into a full-scale conflict.
The minister’s comments, widely reported in the Express Tribune, reflect Pakistan’s mounting concern over the evolving military dynamics along its borders.
Pakistan Alleges Indian Drone Incursions for Reconnaissance
In his statement before Parliament, Asif downplayed the immediate threat posed by Indian drone incursions, suggesting that the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) sent by India were primarily deployed for reconnaissance and surveillance, rather than for immediate strikes or offensive action.
He claimed that Indian drones were permitted to enter a “safe zone”—a pre-calculated range within Pakistani airspace—before being intercepted and neutralised by Pakistani air defence units.
This strategic restraint, he argued, was aimed at avoiding accidental exposure of sensitive military locations and was part of Pakistan’s calibrated defensive posture.
Minister of Information Details Extensive Drone Interception
Minister for Information Atta Tarar supplemented Asif’s comments with details on recent military developments. He revealed that from Wednesday until Thursday evening, Pakistani defence forces successfully intercepted 29 Indian drones.
He further added that another 48 drones were neutralised overnight and into Friday, indicating a sharp escalation in aerial activity across the border.
While Tarar portrayed these interceptions as a demonstration of Pakistan’s technical capability and preparedness, the Indian side provided a significantly different narrative.
India Counters with Allegations of Massive Drone Offensive by Pakistan
Responding to Pakistan’s claims, Indian defence officials stated that Pakistan had launched an aggressive drone campaign overnight, involving the deployment of between 300 to 400 UAVs across 36 strategic locations, stretching from Leh in Ladakh to the Sir Creek delta in Gujarat.
These drones, according to Indian military sources, were allegedly aimed at Indian military installations and sensitive infrastructure.
Indian forces responded swiftly to this massive aerial threat, using advanced surveillance and anti-drone systems to shoot down or disable the intruding UAVs. Indian officials further alleged that some of these drones were Turkish-made, indicating possible foreign military cooperation with Pakistan.
Operation Sindoor: The Catalyst for the Current Crisis
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have been steadily mounting since April 22, following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that resulted in 26 civilian casualties.
Intelligence reports linked the attack to cross-border elements, prompting the Indian government to launch Operation Sindoor—a precision military operation that targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir—early on Wednesday morning.
In the aftermath of India’s offensive, Pakistan attempted a retaliatory strike on 15 Indian cities, but according to Indian authorities, the attack failed due to timely interceptions and preparedness of the Indian military.
Diplomatic Engagements Intensify: Saudi Envoy Visits Islamabad After Delhi
As regional tensions reached a boiling point, Saudi Arabia stepped in as a potential mediator. The Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel Al-Jubeir, arrived in Islamabad on Friday, just hours after concluding a visit to New Delhi.
His visit underscores Riyadh’s growing concern about the escalation between India and Pakistan and its possible implications for regional security.
Upon his arrival, Jubeir was received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, according to reports from state-run Radio Pakistan.
The two sides are believed to have held discussions on regional security, peace-building, and de-escalation strategies.
According to Geo News, the Saudi minister is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, in a bid to foster backchannel diplomacy and avert further deterioration of the crisis.
The Road Ahead
With tensions simmering along both the LoC and IB, and mutual accusations of drone warfare flying thick and fast, the international community is watching the India-Pakistan border with growing concern.
As both nations engage in diplomatic and military manoeuvres, the spotlight now turns to whether these efforts at de-escalation will succeed, or if the subcontinent risks sliding further toward a dangerous confrontation.
