‘Chances of war with India are real’, warns Pakistan defence minister
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Islamabad: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that the “chances of war with India are real,” claiming that Pakistan would achieve even greater success if another armed conflict were to occur.
Speaking in an interview with Samaa TV on Tuesday, Asif made the remarks when asked about recent statements from Indian political and military leaders. He said that while Pakistan did not seek escalation, it was closely monitoring the situation and maintaining vigilance.
“Chances of war with India are real,” Asif said, adding, “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.”
The minister further claimed that Pakistan now had more allies and international support than it did six months ago, suggesting that India had lost the backing of countries that previously sided with it during the May conflict. However, he did not name any specific nations.
Asif went on to allege that India had never been a united nation except briefly under Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, while asserting that Pakistan, created in the name of Allah, had demonstrated unity during the May confrontation despite internal challenges.
“At home, we argue and compete. In a fight with India, we come together,” he added.
His comments follow recent tensions between the two countries, triggered by statements from Indian military leaders. Indian Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi had earlier warned Pakistan to stop sponsoring terrorism if it wished to “exist on the world map.”
Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh recently said that at least a dozen Pakistani military aircraft, including US-origin F-16 fighter jets, were destroyed or damaged in Indian strikes during Operation Sindoor.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also reaffirmed India’s firm stance, stating at an event in Hyderabad on Friday that the country would “cross any border whenever necessary” to protect its citizens and uphold its unity and integrity.
Operation Sindoor was launched by India on May 7 in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories. The operation led to four days of intense clashes, which ended on May 10 following an understanding to halt military actions.
India has maintained that Pakistan pleaded for an end to hostilities after Indian forces inflicted heavy damage on its military infrastructure during the confrontation.
With PTI inputs