Ready to 'wrap up' tensions if New Delhi de-escalates situation: Pakistan defence minister

Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said the country was ready to "wrap up" tensions with India, if New Delhi de-escalates the situation. "We have been saying all along in the last fortnight that we'll never initiate anything hostile towards India. But if we're attacked, we'll respond. If India backs down, we will wrap up this tension," he was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.

Pakistan army, meanwhile, threatened "strong retaliation". Army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharf Chaudhry claimed eight people, mostly civilians, were killed and 36 injured. But as footage of destroyed terror camps started circulating, showing multiple bodies being carried away, he increased the toll to "at least 26".

Pakistan on Wednesday evening restored air traffic across major routes, while a few routes are to remain closed for another 24 hours. It had earlier on Wednesday announced a 48-hour closure of its airspace for all air traffic. Pakistan said 57 international flights and several local flights were in its airspace when India struck.