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

Islamabad, October 8 — Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has escalated tensions with India by stating that the “chances of war with India are real” and claiming he is “not denying that possibility,” reports 24brussels. In an interview with Samaa TV, Asif made provocative assertions regarding India’s history and emphasized Pakistan’s unity amid potential conflict.

Asif expressed his desire to avoid escalation but stated the risks are significant, asserting, “If it comes to war, God willing, we will achieve a better result than before.” He characterized India as historically fragmented, claiming Pakistan was formed in the name of Allah and that while Pakistanis may argue domestically, they unify in opposition to India.

His remarks follow recent threats in response to comments made by Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, who warned Pakistan to cease its support for terrorism to maintain its place on the world map. According to Asif, any future Indian “aggression” would elicit a stronger reaction from Pakistan.

Dwivedi had previously stated that India would not exercise the same restraint as seen during Operation Sindoor, asserting that India is fully prepared for decisive action that would compel Pakistan to reconsider its existence as a nation. Operation Sindoor was a significant military response by the Indian Air Force following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed 26 civilian lives, targeting terrorist operations and infrastructure in Pakistan.

The long-standing conflict between India and Pakistan includes numerous wars and military operations since their independence in 1947, rooted primarily in the territorial dispute over Jammu and Kashmir. The initial conflict arose in 1947, and significant confrontations occurred during the Indo-Pakistani Wars of 1965 and 1971, as well as the Kargil War in 1999, each shaping the fraught relationship between the two nations.