Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued a blunt response to his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on social media platform X, cautioning against what he described as “repeated rhetoric” and escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
In his statement, Asif said that such rhetoric reflected “not strength, but visible strategic anxiety,” particularly as the anniversary of what he termed a “staged false flag operation” in Pahalgam approaches.
He alleged that the incident had failed to withstand international scrutiny and accused New Delhi of relying on “manufactured crises.”
The defence minister stated that what he called “threat-mongering” was part of a predictable pattern aimed at externalising internal challenges and provoking escalation based on “unsubstantiated allegations” for political purposes.
Referring to past conflicts, Asif warned that “history stands as a stark reminder that miscalculation has consequences,” adding that Pakistan’s response to any future aggression would be “more forceful and decisive.”
He reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to peace and regional stability but emphasised that the country’s resolve to defend its sovereignty was “absolute,” with preparedness “complete” and any response “swift, calibrated, and decisive.”
Addressing the Indian leadership directly, Asif stressed that the idea of space for war between two nuclear states was “inconceivable” and would have severe consequences. He urged India to focus on what he described as “growing unease within its own strategic and diplomatic space.”
