Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has confirmed that Indian ballistic missiles attacked Nur Khan Airbase and other key locations within Pakistan at the wee hours of May 10. The attacks, as part of India's retaliatory military operation Operation Sindoor, were conducted after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, purportedly by Pakistan-based terror organizations. The recognition by Sharif, made in a public speech at the Pakistan Monument in Islamabad, constitutes a major deviation from Pakistan's long-standing policy of denial in the case of Indian cross-border attacks. His utterances have since led to widespread criticism among Pakistanis, especially for his approach to the crisis and statements during the ceasefire talks.

Sharif: "I Was Swimming When India Proposed Ceasefire"

In one of the more controversial parts of his speech, PM Shehbaz Sharif said that he was swimming when he got a secure-line call from Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir, about a mooted ceasefire by India. “It was morning. I had my secure phone with me while I was swimming. As luck would have it, the phone rang,” Sharif said. “General Munir informed me that India was ready for a ceasefire. I told him, This is a matter of pride." His remarks were also ridiculed on social media, where a Pakistani content creator uploaded a viral video that read, "Pakistan was getting bombed, and our PM was swimming?" The creator further questioned Sharif’s authority to accept the ceasefire without consulting Parliament, asking citizens to “use common sense.”

Operation Sindoor: India's Precise Response 

India initiated Operation Sindoor at dawn on May 7 as a measured military reaction to the Pahalgam terror attack. The Indian military struck more than nine terror camps located in Pakistan and PoJK, killing an estimated over 100 militants of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). India announced that a ceasefire agreement was inked with Pakistan on May 10 in direct talks between the DGMOs of both nations. The Indian Ministry of Defence stressed that the ceasefire was a temporary stopgap to avoid further escalation but reiterated its right to react in case of any violation or cross-border aggression. "India is strongly committed to eliminating terrorism in all its manifestations. Any subsequent dialogue with Pakistan will be strictly limited to terrorism and PoJK," Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated in a post-operation speech.

Also read: 'Asim Munir Called Me Via Secure line...': Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Admits Indian Missiles Hit Nur Khan Airbase | WATCH

While both nations have agreed to halt military operations for now, diplomatic tensions remain high. Sharif, on a follow-up visit to Kamra Airbase, said that Pakistan was willing to negotiate peace with India, "but only if the issue of Kashmir is on the agenda." India, however, has made its intentions clear that any talks in the future will have to center only on terrorism and Pakistani support for militant outfits. “If Pakistan is to survive, it must dismantle its terror infrastructure. There is no other way to peace,” Prime Minister Modi reiterated.

Also read: Operation Sindoor: Not Just Pahalgam, India Avenges Torture Of Sarabjit, Kulbhushan's Families By Pakistan