India, June 20 -- A Pakistani Minister has confessed his nation was compelled to request a ceasefire with India in May after the latter hit two of its airbases in Rawalpindi and Punjab province.

The confession was made by Pakistan Deputy PM Ishaq Dar during a telephone conversation.

India and Pakistan were engaged in a four-day military conflict in May, days after the Indian Armed Forces conducted Operation Sindoor and targeted terror bases in PoK and Pakistan.

"He said he had then just learnt about my conversation with (US Secretary of State) Marco Rubio. He asked if he was authorised to talk to (India's External Affairs Minister) S Jaishankar and convey that we are ready if they (India) stop. I said yes, brother, you can. He then cal...