Khawaja Asif warns India against 'illusion of war' between nuclear states

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday issued a stern warning to his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh, stressing that the notion of a conventional conflict between two nuclear-armed states was “inconceivable” and fraught with catastrophic consequences.

The remarks came in response to recent statements by Singh cautioning Pakistan against any “misadventure” amid the backdrop of heightened tensions linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict.

In a strongly worded post on X, Asif — while not directly quoting Singh — criticised what he described as recurring “threat-mongering”, attributing it to “visible strategic anxiety” in New Delhi as the anniversary of the Pahalgam attack approaches. He alleged that the incident, which India blamed on Pakistan, failed to stand up to international scrutiny and exposed a pattern of “manufactured crises”.

Referring to past tensions, the minister said such rhetoric reflected a broader tendency to externalise internal challenges and provoke escalation for political objectives. He reiterated that Pakistan had categorically rejected allegations linking it to the Pahalgam incident and had called for an impartial investigation.

Asif also invoked Marka-i-Haq — the term used by Pakistan for the period of military standoff following the April 2025 escalation — warning that any future confrontation would be met with an even “more forceful and decisive” response.

“History stands as a stark reminder that miscalculation has consequences,” he said, underlining Pakistan’s readiness to respond swiftly and effectively to any aggression.

Despite the tough tone, the defence minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace and regional stability while making it clear that the country’s resolve to defend its sovereignty remained unwavering.

“Let there be no ambiguity,” he said, adding that any assumption of space for war between nuclear powers was dangerously flawed and could lead to devastating outcomes.