Islamabad: Pakistan is in a “difficult situation” and “rattled” by the recent developments, with the Indian Armed Forces carrying out calibrated and swift precision strikes on select military installations across Pakistan, a former Pakistani Air Marshal has admitted.
“What has happened today, it should rattle us all — we are in a difficult situation, and at present, we have no clear answers,” Pakistan’s retired Air Marshal Masood Akhtar said in a televised interview following the escalation in the military attacks.
The retired Air Marshal also highlighted the disparity in military strength, noting that India’s forces number 16 lakh compared to Pakistan’s six lakh.
“No amount of Gazwa (religious warfare rhetoric) will save us,” he remarked, underscoring the vulnerability of Pakistan’s position.
Akhtar noted that the situation is worsening, with no de-escalation expected unless the United States steps in. “The situation is deteriorating, and de-escalation won’t happen until America steps in and applies pressure,” he stated.
Akhtar also criticised the diplomatic efforts by Arab nations and Iran, suggesting that India is not receptive to their mediation.
“India is not agreeing to the diplomacy that the Arabs and Iran are doing. So we have to think seriously about what course of action we need to take,” he said.
The remarks reflect growing anxiety within Pakistan over the direction of its national security amid escalating tensions with India.
