Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday said Pakistan's military action against India was a “measured act of self-defence” in response to the repeated violations of Pakistan's sovereignty.

In a statement, the deputy prime minister said the operation launched in retaliation was not only militarily justified but also morally grounded. “India has turned this region into a theatre of aggression for the past three days. We had to respond—and we did, with restraint and resolve,” he said.

Mr Dar revealed that Saturday’s military response was “symbolically and spiritually significant,” as it was named after the Holy Quran. “This operation will reach its conclusion in due time,” he added, without offering specifics.

The remarks came amid heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours following a series of deadly cross-border incidents. Pakistani officials said multiple civilians, including children, had been killed in the recent Indian shelling, prompting Islamabad to retaliate with targeted missile strikes and aerial engagements.

Referring to India’s recent statements and media reports regarding the Pahalgam incident, Mr Dar claimed that even Indian media had acknowledged the situation only in a “limited and guarded” manner. “India has lied excessively. No one is ready to believe their narrative anymore,” he asserted.

He likened India’s behaviour to a “knife in the side and a ram in the mouth” – accusing New Delhi of duplicity and provocation. “We will not allow India to assert unilateral dominance in the region,” he stated. “Pakistan has shown a great deal of patience, but enough is enough.”

Mr Dar noted that Pakistani forces had acted on the very first day of escalation by targeting Indian fighter jets attempting to cross into Pakistani territory. “The response you are seeing today is, in fact, minimal compared to what we are capable of,” he said.

The deputy PM also reiterated that Pakistan’s territorial integrity is non-negotiable and that any breach would be met with a proportional response. “We are acting purely in self-defence. This is not aggression, this is justice,” he maintained.

In a message to the nation, Mr Dar concluded: “Insha’Allah, we will achieve victory. The sacrifices made will not be forgotten, and Pakistan will emerge stronger and more united.”