Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said the military had advised him to take refuge in a bunker during the India-Pakistan confrontation in May after Operation Sindoor, but he chose to stay put, stating leaders do not seek safety in bunkers. He claimed Pakistan’s armed forces responded strongly to India. Zardari’s comments followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warning to Pakistan to choose peace or face action. Hitting back, Zardari said Pakistan was prepared for war, ready to make sacrifices, and would respond with force if provoked, stressing the country’s readiness for the battlefield.