It appears that Pakistan refuses to learn some lessons. A year after India’s Operation Sindoor, the military hostilities that took place last May, Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir’s tall claims have been exposed.
Speaking at an event to mark the first anniversary of ‘Marka-e-Haq’, the name given by Islamabad for the four-day hostilities last year, Field Marshal Munir claimed that India had sought United States involvement for a ceasefire. However, documents filed by a lobbying firm suggest otherwise, exposing Munir’s claims to be just that.
Asim Munir’s big Op Sindoor claim
On Sunday, Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir
“Marka-e-Haq was not merely a traditional war fought between two countries or militaries, but in reality, it was a decisive marka (battle) between two ideologies,” he said.
addressed a ceremony at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi to mark the first anniversary of ‘Marka-e-Haq’. Speaking at the event, the Pakistan military leader noted that the country’s military strategy was “superior” during the hostilities.
Munir alleged that India “violated the sovereignty and territory” of Pakistan between the night of May 6-7 and May 10 last year, and said Pakistan responded, “with full national unity and military force”.
He further stated that Islamabad had struck 26 targets during the conflict“Our enemies should know that if any attempt is made in the future to carry out a misadventure against Pakistan, then the impact of war would not be limited, but extremely widespread, dangerous, far-reaching, and painful.”. But provided no evidence to back this claim.
He further warned that any future “misadventure” against Pakistan would bring “extremely widespread, dangerous, far-reaching and painful” consequences for the enemy.
In his address, Munir also claimed that India sought the involvement of the United States for a ceasefire. Again, he provided no proof to back this claim.
Documents expose Munir’s lie
However, lobbying disclosures filed in the US are in stark contrast to Munir’s remarks. According to an ANI news report, filings made under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) show that Islamabad logged nearly 60 interactions with US officials, including lawmakers and defence-linked personnel in the time period of May 6 and May 9.
After India initiated attacks against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Islamabad, as per the documents, initiated nearly 30 separate contacts, most of them seeking meetings for Pakistan’s Ambassador with congressional and Senate offices. The filings repeatedly used the description “Meeting request with the Ambassador”.
Then, on May 7 and 8, Pakistan began to “discuss tensions in the region”. One document reveals that on May 7, Islamabad held a call with Chairman Brian Mast, who chairs the influential House Foreign Affairs Committee, discussing “tensions in the region”.
Another May 7 filing records a call with Wyndee Parker, national security adviser to Representative Hakeem Jeffries, regarding scheduling a meeting with the minority leader.
On May 8, Pakistan requested a meeting with Ryan Kaldahl from Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s office for an “ambassador discussion about tensions in the region”. On the same day, there was a call with Meghan Gallagher, Policy Adviser to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
The disclosures revealed that on May 9, there was intense lobbying with Islamabad requesting and reaching out to nearly 25 members from the US leadership circles.
The filings also reveal coordination with a journalist from a leading American newspaper regarding an interview during the same period.
India’s position on Operation Sindoor ceasefire
The filings revealed by ANI also align with India’s stance on the ceasefire called on May 10. New Delhi has maintained that the cessation of hostilities was reached following direct DGMO-level communication between the two militaries.
Then DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai reportedly received a hotline message from his Pakistani counterpart, after which a ceasefire understanding was reached. India has also rejected claims of third-party mediation.
This, despite the numerous claims made by US President Donald Trump that he was the one responsible for mediating a truce between the two nuclear-powered nations.
These assertions by Trump and Pakistan have been countered by several high-ranking officials within the Indian government. “The record of what happened at that time was very clear, and the ceasefire was something which was negotiated between the DGMOs of the two countries…” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said last year.
