Khawaja Asif Warns India of ‘Decisive Response’ to Any Aggression
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif reaffirmed the country’s commitment to peace and regional stability, while cautioning that Pakistan is fully prepared to defend its sovereignty with a swift and decisive response to any threat.
His statement came in response to remarks by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who had warned Pakistan against any “misadventure” amid the ongoing tensions linked to the Middle East situation.
In a post on X, Asif stressed that the idea of war between two nuclear-armed nations is unrealistic and would lead to severe consequences.
Referring to last year’s conflict, he said tensions escalated after India blamed Pakistan for an attack on tourists in Pahalgam, an allegation Islamabad strongly denied and called for an independent investigation.
According to Pakistan, India followed these accusations with missile strikes inside its territory, resulting in civilian and military casualties. Pakistan responded by shooting down several Indian aircraft, including Rafale jets, as well as drones, and damaging an air defence system.
The conflict between the two countries ended on May 10 after a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.
Asif criticized India’s repeated statements, describing them as a sign of strategic anxiety, especially with the anniversary of the Pahalgam incident approaching. He alleged that such rhetoric is part of a pattern aimed at shifting focus from internal challenges and escalating tensions for political purposes.
He also warned that any future miscalculation could have serious consequences, emphasizing that Pakistan’s response would be even stronger if provoked again.
Reiterating Pakistan’s stance, Asif said the country remains committed to peace but is fully prepared to defend its sovereignty. He added that India should focus on addressing its own internal and diplomatic challenges rather than issuing threats.
