- Pakistan’s resolve to defend sovereignty is absolute: Khawaja Asif.
- Defence minister says Indian rhetoric reflects visible strategic anxiety.
- India seeks escalation as Pahalgam anniversary approaches: minister.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan remained committed to peace and regional stability, but warned his Indian counterpart that the country was fully prepared to defend its sovereignty with a swift and decisive response to any threat.
His remarks came in response to a recent statement by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who cautioned Pakistan against any “misadventure” in the backdrop of the ongoing Middle East conflict, according to Indian media reports.
In a post on X, Asif warned his Indian counterpart, saying: “Illusion of space for war between two nuclear states is inconceivable and would have drastic consequences.”
Pakistan and India went to war in May last year after India launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistan following the attack on tourists in the IIOJK.
Without offering any evidence, New Delhi had accused Islamabad of orchestrating the deadly attack in Pahalgam — a charge that Islamabad denied and also asked it to hold neutral investigation.
India followed the baseless accusations with unlawful missile strikes inside Pakistan, which resulted in the martyrdom of several civilians and security personnel.
Pakistan responded by downing seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale, dozens of drones, and destroying an S-400 defence system.
The war between the two nuclear-armed nations ended on May 10 with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.
In his statement earlier today, Asif said: “Repeated rhetoric reflects not strength, but visible strategic anxiety as the anniversary of the staged false flag operation in Pahalgam approaches — an episode that failed to withstand international scrutiny and exposed New Delhi’s reliance on manufactured crises.
“Such threat-mongering is not new; it is part of a predictable pattern — externalising internal fragility, and attempting to provoke escalation under the garb of unsubstantiated allegations for vested political interests,” he said.
The defence minister said that history stood as a stark reminder that miscalculation has consequences. “Marka-e-Haq remains fresh in our minds. The next time our response will be even more forceful and decisive.
“Let there be no ambiguity: Pakistan remains committed to peace and regional stability, but its resolve to defend sovereignty is absolute, its preparedness complete, and its response will be swift, calibrated, and decisive,” he said.
The defence czar further said, “Let me remind Rajnath Singh that the illusion of space for war between two nuclear states is inconceivable and has drastic consequences.
“India would be better served by confronting the growing unease within its own strategic and diplomatic space,” he added.
