Speaking at the Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit at Lachin in Azerbaijan, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif admitted that India's BrahMos missile strikes on the intervening night of May 9-10 thwarted Pakistan's planned military offensive.
He stated that Pakistan planned to attack India in the early hours of May 10, just after the Fajr prayers, but India had already struck multiple provinces across Pakistan by that time.
The Indian Armed Forces carried out targeted missile strikes under Operation Sindoor on nine terrorist facilities, four in Pakistan and five in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
"On the night of 9-10 May, we decided to respond in a measured fashion to Indian aggression. Our armed forces were prepared to act at 4.30 in the morning after Fajr prayers to teach a lesson. But before that hour even arrived, India once again launched a missile attack using BrahMos, targeting various provinces of Pakistan, including the airport in Rawalpindi," Sharif said during his speech.
Notably, this is not the first time that PM Sharif had publicly admitted the damage caused by India under Operation Sindoor.
Earlier this month, speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad, Sharif had recalled the 2:30 AM call from the Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir, informing him of the missile attacks launched by India.
"General Asif Munir called me through a secure line and told me India has launched its missiles. One has landed at the Nur Khan airbase and a few at other areas," he acknowledged.
Sharif's latest remark draws significance with him expressing that Pakistan is ready to talk with India to find solutions to longstanding problems, including Kashmir, water-sharing, and trade, earlier this week.
However, India made it clear that any talks with Pakistan is possible only if the country halts the cross-border terrorism.
Presently, a ceasefire with 'no expiration' date exists between the two countries.