Rattled Pakistan’s Defence Minister warns of ‘real risk’ of war with India

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has once again resorted to aggressive rhetoric against India, saying that the “chances of war with India are real” and claiming he was “not denying that possibility.”

In a television interview, Asif made a series of provocative statements, including claims about India’s history and Pakistan’s unity in the face of conflict.

“I do not want escalation, but the risks are real and I am not denying that. If it comes to war, God willing, we will achieve a better result than before,” said Asif.

Asif claimed that India was never a united nation, except briefly under Aurangzeb, and that Pakistan was created in the name of Allah. Asif said that Pakistanis argue and compete at home but come together in the face of conflict with India.

“History shows that India was never one united nation, except briefly under Aurangzeb. Pakistan was created in the name of Allah. At home, we argue and compete. In a fight with India, we come together,” said Pakistan’s Defence Minister.

His latest remarks come just days after he made similar threats following statements from Indian Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, who warned Pakistan to stop backing state-sponsored terrorism if it wants to exist on the world map.

Asif’s latest statement follows a series of provocative comments he made earlier this week, where he warned that any future Indian “aggression” would invite an even stronger response from Pakistan, as per Samaa TV.

His comments came in response to remarks by Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, who recently warned that India would not show the same restraint in a future conflict as it did during Operation Sindoor 1.0.

“India is fully prepared this time. We will not show the restraint we exhibited during Operation Sindoor 1.0. This time, the action will be such that Pakistan will have to think whether it wants to exist geographically,” General Dwivedi had said during a visit to forward areas near Bikaner.

Operation Sindoor was a military operation conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. The operation targeted terrorist infrastructure and military assets in Pakistan, resulting in significant losses for the Pakistani military.

The operation targeted nine terrorist facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) headquarters at Bahawalpur and the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) base at Muridke.

India’s air defence systems successfully intercepted multiple Pakistani drones and missiles, preventing damage to Indian military installations and civilian areas.

India and Pakistan have had several conflicts since their independence in 1947. The first major conflict between India and Pakistan occurred in 1947 over the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. The war ended with a ceasefire, but the region remained disputed.

The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was fought over Kashmir and ended with a ceasefire brokered by the Soviet Union.

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 or the Bangladesh Liberation War, India supported the Mukti Bahini forces in East Pakistan, which ultimately led to the creation of Bangladesh. Pakistan’s military forces surrendered on December 16, 1971.

A conflict in 1999 over the Kargil district in Kashmir, which ended with Pakistan withdrawing its forces. (ANI)