Khawaja Asif warns Indian defence minister against provocations ahead of Pahalgam attack anniversary
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and his Indian Counterpart Rajnath Singh in a combined photo display. Photo: AFP/ File
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday cautioned Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh against escalating tensions ahead of the anniversary of the deadly Pahalgam attack, dismissing the latter’s recent threatening remarks as provocative and politically motivated.
On April 22 last year, 26 tourists were killed in a brutal attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Just weeks before the anniversary, Singh issued a stern warning to Pakistan earlier today against any misadventure on the border, stating that any hostile actions by Pakistan would be met with an unprecedented and decisive response.
In a pointed message on X, Asif criticised Singh’s remarks as “repeated rhetoric” that exposed India’s strategic anxiety ahead of the anniversary of what he described as a “staged false flag operation”. Asif accused New Delhi of relying on “manufactured crises” that failed to withstand international scrutiny.
“Such threat-mongering is not new,” he said, adding that it followed a predictable pattern of externalising India’s internal vulnerabilities and provoking escalation under the guise of unsubstantiated allegations for vested political interests.
Repeated rhetoric reflects not strength, but visible strategic anxiety as the anniversary of the staged False Flag Operation in Pahlgam approaches - an episode that failed to withstand international scrutiny and exposed New Delhi’s reliance on manufactured crises.
Such…Recalling Pakistan Armed Forces’ response in May last year during the Marka-e-Haq operation, Asif warned that history served as a stark reminder of the consequences of miscalculation. “Marka-e-Haq remains fresh in our minds. The next time, our response will be even more forceful and decisive. Let there be no ambiguity,” he asserted.
Asif emphasised that Pakistan remained committed to peace and regional stability but was fully prepared to defend its sovereignty with a swift, calibrated and decisive response if provoked.
“Let me remind Rajnath Singh that the illusion of space for war between two nuclear states is inconceivable and will have drastic consequences,” he warned, urging India to focus on addressing the growing unease within its own strategic and diplomatic circles rather than resorting to aggressive posturing.
Tension between Pakistan and India increased after the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
In response, India undertook a series of hostile actions the next day on April 23, including suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), cancelling visas for Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing and ordering the shutdown of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. India and Pakistan subsequently reduced diplomatic staff at their respective embassies in each other's countries.
Pakistan strongly rejected the accusation, calling it unsubstantiated, but took reciprocal measures through its National Security Committee. These included halting trade with India, closing Pakistani airspace to Indian aircraft, and other countersteps.
On the night of May 7, the Indian Air Force launched an unprovoked attack on civilian targets in Pakistan. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) immediately retaliated and shot down at least six IAF jets, including three French-built Rafales.
Escalating further, on the night of May 9-10, India launched another round of strikes against Pakistan, but this time targeted military sites and airbases.
In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, striking back at Indian military installations, including missile storage sites, airbases and other strategic targets. The early morning strikes came as a shock for the Indian military leadership, who had underestimated Pakistan's response to their unprovoked attacks.
As the conflict spiralled, US President Donald Trump announced on May 10 that a ceasefire had been reached following intense diplomatic efforts overnight. The two sides gradually reduced troop numbers from the international border in the following weeks.