Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a stern warning that Islamabad would respond “swiftly, calibrated, and decisively” to any attack, as tensions with India continue to simmer.

His remarks were made in direct response to Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who recently declared that any “misadventure” by Pakistan would invite an “unprecedented and decisive” retaliation.

Singh, speaking at an event in Kerala, referenced the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. He asserted that India had destroyed terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan in the aftermath and highlighted “Operation Sindoor,” claiming Indian forces had brought Pakistan “to its knees within 22 minutes.” These statements were intended to underline India’s military readiness and resolve.

Asif, however, dismissed Singh’s comments as evidence of “strategic anxiety” ahead of the attack’s anniversary. Writing on X, he accused India of externalising its internal fragility and attempting to provoke escalation through “unsubstantiated allegations.” He argued that such rhetoric was part of a predictable pattern of threat-mongering.

The Pakistani minister also recalled the brief but intense four-day conflict between the two countries in May last year, warning that any future confrontation would be met with an even stronger response. “History is a stark reminder that miscalculation has consequences,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s next response would be “more forceful and decisive.”

The Pahalgam attack marked a turning point in India–Pakistan relations, triggering a sharp escalation that led to direct military confrontation. Since then, ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have remained fraught, with both sides trading strong words and warnings.

The anniversary of the attack has once again brought these tensions to the fore, raising concerns about the risk of miscalculation and escalation in the region.

Agencies