Pakistan Says ‘Will Stop If India Does’, But Will Its Terror Machinery Ever Stop?

As India holds firm and vigilant, a visibly cornered Pakistan is now sending out feelers of peace. Hours after India crushed Pakistan's much-hyped Operation Bunyan Unmarsoos, launching precision airstrikes on Pakistani military assets in a retaliatory action, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has now signaled a desire to de-escalate - but only if India stops first.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, in a televised statement on Saturday as reported by Reuters, said,"If India stops here, we will consider stopping too.'' This statement, while sounding conciliatory on the surface, raises a critical question: Can Pakistan truly abandon its terror playbook, or is this just another tactical ploy?

Dar told Pakistan's Geo News that he relayed the same message to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who contacted him roughly two hours after speaking with New Delhi.

"We acted because our patience had worn thin. If India halts its actions now, we too will consider doing the same," he stated.

Pakistan's credibility, especially on matters of terror and cross-border violence, remains deeply eroded in the global arena. Despite claiming victimhood, it continues to shelter and support radical outfits operating with impunity from its soil - a pattern that has often preceded similar calls for "peace" in the past.

India, on its part, has made it clear: no escalation unless provoked further. The Indian armed forces remain on high alert after observing increased Pakistani troop deployments near forward positions along the border - a move seen as provocative and loaded with "offensive intent."

At a press briefing in New Delhi, the Indian military rubbished claims of major damage at its bases and clarified that no missile had struck Afghan territory, countering another round of false propaganda from across the border.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after speaking with Dar, urged both nations to re-establish communication and avoid any miscalculation. Yet, the core issue remains unaddressed: Can Pakistan be trusted to rein in its terror infrastructure, or is this merely another tactical pause?

India's position is clear - it seeks peace but with accountability. De-escalation cannot be a cover for regrouping and rearming terror proxies.

As the world watches, the ball isn't just in India's court, as Dar claims - it's in Pakistan's hands. And the question remains: Will Pakistan finally dismantle its terror machinery, or will history repeat itself - once again at the cost of peace?