Pakistani PM warns India: Respect sovereignty or face consequences

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has declared that India has been “taught a lesson” in respecting the sovereignty of its neighbours, following a wave of deadly cross-border violence that culminated in Pakistan’s military retaliation under the operation codenamed Bunyanum Marsoos.

In a public statement reported by Geo News on May 13, Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the killing of 40 innocent civilians, including women and children, due to what he described as Indian aggression.

“The nation's Martyrs will never be forgotten,” he said, offering prayers for the deceased and expressing sympathy for the grieving families.

The prime minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the families of those killed, noting that a special package for the martyrs had already been announced. “We will not leave them alone,” he pledged.

Addressing the military confrontation, Sharif said, “India has now realised that it has to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional states.” He lauded the Pakistan Armed Forces for “shattering India's illusion of superiority,” and underlined that Pakistan’s response demonstrated the country’s capability to defend itself.

“We are a peaceful country but we know how to respond to any act of aggression, and Operation Bunyanum Marsoos is an undeniable proof,” he said.

Earlier on the same day, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) — the media wing of the Pakistan Army — confirmed that 11 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 78 wounded during what it described as “India’s unprovoked and reprehensible dastardly attacks.” In total, the ISPR reported that 40 civilians, including seven women and 15 children, were killed, and another 121 were injured.

According to the ISPR, the Pakistan Armed Forces launched a retaliatory campaign under the operational umbrella of Marka e-Haq, delivering “precise and notch-up retributive strikes” as part of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.

“Let there be no ambiguity: any attempt to challenge Pakistan’s sovereignty or territorial integrity, ever again, shall be met with a swift, full-spectrum, and decisive response,” the ISPR said in its statement. It also paid tribute to the fallen soldiers and civilians, while offering prayers for the swift recovery of the wounded.

The recent flare-up in violence between India and Pakistan stemmed from the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead. India blamed Pakistan-based militants for the assault, a charge Islamabad firmly denied. The incident triggered a cycle of military escalation, including airstrikes and missile exchanges across the Line of Control.

The conflict raised alarms in the international community and was eventually halted through a ceasefire brokered by the United States. Despite the pause in hostilities, tensions remain high as both countries continue to issue stern warnings and reassert their claims of sovereignty.

By Tamilla Hasanova