ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned his Indian counterpart on Thursday that if India attacks Pakistan, Islamabad’s response would be “swift, decisive and more forceful,” as tensions remain high between the two rivals.
Asif was responding to Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, who warned Pakistan earlier today at an event in Kerala that any misadventure by Islamabad amid the Middle East war, would be met with an “unprecedented and decisive” response.
India and Pakistan engaged in the worst fighting between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in May last year before Washington brokered a ceasefire after four days. India had attacked what it said were “terrorist” camps in Pakistan after an April
22 militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. Delhi blamed Islamabad for supporting the attack, which Pakistan categorically denied.
“History stands as a stark reminder that miscalculation has consequences,” Asif wrote on social media platform X.
“The next time our response will be even more forceful and decisive.”
The Pakistani minister accused Singh of provoking escalation under the garb of “unsubstantiated allegations for vested political interests.”
Pakistan has frequently accused India of carrying out “false flag operations” in its territory to lay blame on Islamabad. India rejects these allegations and blames Pakistan for supporting militant attacks, especially in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Asif warned India that Pakistan remains committed to peace and regional stability but would defend its sovereignty.
“Let me remind Rajnath Singh that the illusion of space for war between two nuclear states is inconceivable and has drastic consequences,” he said.
India and Pakistan have fought two out of three wars over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir. Both claim the region in full but administer only parts of it.
Pakistan accuses India of suppressing dissent and violating the rights of dissidents in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir, charges that New Delhi rejects.
