India, Dec. 28 -- Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari made a striking revelation during a recent rally, admitting that he was advised to take shelter in a bunker during the four-day conflict with India in May, following the launch of Operation Sindoor.

Zardari, however, claimed he declined the proposal, stating his resolve to face the situation head-on.

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in retaliation for the terror attack at Pahalgam's Baisaran Meadows, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists.

"He (the secretary) came to me and said, 'War has begun. Let's go to the bunkers.' But I told him, if martyrdom is to come, it will come here. Leaders don't die in bunkers-they die on the battlefield," Zardari said, a...