Top US diplomat speaks with Pakistan Army chief after counteroffensive on India

Shortly after Pakistan launched a retaliatory operation targeting military sites in India, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with Pakistan’s Army chief Gen. Asim Munir, the U.S. Department of State said on Saturday.

The high-level conversation came amid rapidly escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

According to the State Department, Rubio reiterated the United States' call for both countries to take steps toward de-escalation and avoid further conflict. He also offered U.S. support in facilitating constructive talks to help prevent future hostilities.

Following the call, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said on X he told Secretary Rubio that India’s approach has “always been measured and responsible—and remains so.”

Twitter/@DrSJaishankar

Also, Pakistan's security sources confirmed that contact was established between Pakistan and India’s Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) via hotline.

Operation Bunyān-un-Marsūs

Pakistan on Saturday launched a large-scale military counter-offensive, codenamed Operation Bunyān-un-Marsūs, after India fired air-to-ground missiles at multiple Pakistani airbases in what Islamabad described as a blatant act of aggression, state media reported early Saturday.

Pakistan's military has claimed responsibility for destroying several key Indian military sites in retaliation for recent attacks. According to state media, the Akhnoor Aviation Base, the Uri Field Supply Depot, and the Bhathinda Airfield have all been destroyed.

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In addition, Pakistani drones were spotted over India's western state of Gujarat, also the hometown of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Earlier, the Pakistani military claimed to have destroyed a BrahMos missile storage facility in India’s Beas region, state media reported. The strikes were ongoing at multiple locations across India, with an air base in Udhampur and an airfield in Pathankot also reportedly destroyed.

"At the moment, Pakistani drones are flying over and operating in India’s capital, Delhi," state media said.

Pakistan Air Force's JF-17 Thunder jets, using hypersonic missiles, have destroyed India’s S-400 system in Adampur, Pakistani security sources said. India has denied the claim.

The Russian-made air defense system is estimated to be worth around $1.5 billion.

Cyber offensive launched

Pakistan has reportedly launched a large-scale cyber offensive targeting critical infrastructure and government systems in India, according to security sources.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company suffered a complete power outage, with records of all meters wiped.

Several high-profile Indian institutions were also affected, including the ruling party Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) website, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Border Security Forces (BSF), Indian Air Force, and others.

Hackers reportedly leaked sensitive data and compromised over 2,500 surveillance cameras across the country.

Pakistan summons top nuclear body

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called a meeting of the top body that oversees its nuclear arsenal after it launched a military operation against India early in the morning, targeting multiple bases including a missile storage site in northern India.

The National Command Authority (NCA) is tasked with ensuring Pakistan's national security by overseeing the command, control, and operational decisions related to the country's nuclear weapons program.

The committee last met in 2019 following the Balakot strikes by India, and then again in 2021 for peacetime review.

What led to the operation

Pakistan Army spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif confirmed that Indian missiles targeted three Pakistani airbases—Nur Khan in Rawalpindi, Murid, and Shorkot—though “all PAF assets remain safe.”

Nur Khan Air Base, located in Rawalpindi near Pakistan’s military headquarters, lies just about 10 kilometers from the capital, Islamabad—highlighting the proximity of the reported Indian missile strike to the country’s political and military nerve center.

In a video message, Sharif called the strikes a “continuation of India’s blatant aggression” and accused New Delhi of escalating tensions, including by firing missiles into Afghanistan and conducting a drone strike there.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri refuted the claim as “frivolous and false.”

'No damage to PAF flying assets'

In another update, the military spokesperson said that the majority of missiles fired by India were intercepted by the armed forces' alert air defense system. The few that managed to get through caused no damage to Pakistan Air Force flying assets, according to initial damage assessment reports, he added.

He said the air defense system had successfully prevented India from achieving its intended objectives. Referring to the wider scope of the attack, he said that India also launched missiles and drones into Afghanistan shortly after firing missiles from its own territory in Indian Punjab.

India fires missiles at Amritsar

Earlier, in another video statement, the military spokesperson had accused India of targeting Sikh minorities in Indian Punjab and launching ballistic missiles into its own territory to provoke anti-Pakistan sentiments.

“Our sympathies are with the Sikh population of [Indian] Punjab,” said Lt. Gen. Chaudhry.

A car moves during a blackout in the city of Amritsar, India, May 9, 2025.Reuters

Chaudhry claimed that India fired six ballistic missiles from Adampur, one of which exploded shortly after launch, while five struck locations in Amritsar. He suggested the attacks were designed to frame Pakistan and inflame sectarian tensions.

“There is a systematic attempt to target the Sikh community in order to spark anti-Pakistan sentiments,” he said. “This is a disturbing and dangerous tactic.”

“This defies all logic—why would they fire five ballistic missiles into Amritsar and one into Adampur? It makes no sense,” he added.

'Baseless allegations'

Pakistan’s military has denied any involvement in the April 22 attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 Indian tourists, calling India’s accusations baseless and politically motivated.

Military spokesperson Chaudhry, joined by senior Air Force and Navy officials, urged an impartial international investigation and pointed to Indian media and political voices questioning internal security failures.

He compared the situation to the 2019 Pulwama incident, warning of a repeated pattern of escalation.

Chaudhry also claimed Pakistan shot down 77 Indian drones in the past 48 hours, while rejecting India’s claim of striking terrorist camps, saying 31 civilians were killed in unprovoked attacks.

“Our armed forces do not attack civilians,” he said, accusing India of exploiting civilian casualties to inflame nationalist sentiment.

Citing examples from Indian media and social platforms, Chaudhry said Indian citizens and political figures have publicly questioned the security lapses around the Pahalgam attack.

“In a region with 700,000 troops, how did terrorists infiltrate, strike, and leave without a trace?” he asked. “Even Indian politicians are calling this another Pulwama-style drama.”

No direct contact

On the issue of diplomatic contacts, Chaudhry dismissed reports of communication between the national security advisers (NSAs) of both countries.

“I can confirm that no direct contact has taken place between the NSAs of Pakistan and India,” he said. “As for indirect communication, the relevant ministry may comment.”

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their independence in 1947, two of them over Kashmir. While border skirmishes are not uncommon, this recent flare-up marks a rare instance of strikes deep into Pakistani territory.

State-run media outlets in Pakistan have warned that further provocations could trigger a broader regional conflict, especially as both nations possess nuclear capabilities.