Indian minister threatens Pakistan with 'bigger blow'

Pakistan should know our capabilities, says Rajnath Singh

A day after Prime Minister Imran Khan's address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned Pakistan of an armed conflict, saying it was capable of giving a "bigger blow" with its advanced naval prowess.

"Pakistan needs to understand that Indian Navy has become much stronger… They should know our capabilities and we can use them if required," NDTV quoted the Indian defence minister as saying on Saturday.

The statement comes amid heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.

On August 5, New Delhi revoked the semi-autonomous status of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), along with imposing severe restrictions including curfew and communication blockade.

This is not the first time Indian leadership has resorted to warmongering.

Earlier this month, India’s army chief General Bipin Rawat said they were ready to occupy Azad Kashmir if Narendra Modi's government gave a go-ahead.

Even Singh had made a veiled threat of a nuclear war in the region.

“Pokhran is the area which witnessed Atal Ji’s firm resolve to make India a nuclear power and yet remain firmly committed to the doctrine of ‘No First Use’. India has strictly adhered to this doctrine. What happens in future depends on the circumstances,” Singh wrote on his verified Twitter handle in August.

The Pokhran-II tests were a series of five nuclear tests conducted by India at the Indian army’s Pokhran Test Range in May 1998 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister.