Says New Delhi relies on “manufactured crises” that cannot withstand international scrutiny
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh in a combined photo display. Photo: AFP/ File
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday warned 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 mishap on the border, saying any hostile action by Pakistan would be met with an unprecedented and decisive response.
In a pointed message on X, Asif slammed Singh’s remarks as “repetitive rhetoric” that revealed 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 “fabricated crises” that could not withstand international scrutiny.
“Such threat-mongering is not new,” he said, adding that it followed a predictable pattern of externalizing India’s internal vulnerabilities and provoking escalation under the guise of unsubstantiated claims of 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 addiction to manufactured crises.
Such…
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) April 2, 2026
Recalling the Pakistan Armed Forces’ response last May during Operation Marka-e-Haq, Asif warned that history served as a stark reminder of the consequences of miscalculations. “Marka-e-Haq remains fresh in our memory. Next time our response will be even more forceful and decisive. Let there be no ambiguity,” he asserted.
Asif stressed 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 room for war between two nuclear powers is unthinkable and will have drastic consequences,” he warned, urging India to focus on addressing the growing unrest within its own strategic and diplomatic circles instead of resorting to aggressive postures.
Tension between Pakistan and India rose after the Pahalgam attack on 22 April.
In response, India undertook a series of hostile actions the day after on 23 April, including suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), canceling visas for Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing, and ordering the closure 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 denied the accusation, calling it baseless, but took reciprocal measures through its National Security Committee. These included halting trade with India, closing Pakistani airspace to Indian aircraft and other countermeasures.
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, shooting down at least six IAF jets, including three French-built Rafales.
Escalating further, on the night of 9–10 May, India launched another round of attacks against Pakistan, but this time targeting military sites and air bases.
In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, striking back against Indian military installations, including missile storage sites, air bases and other strategic targets. The early morning strikes came as a shock to the Indian military leadership, which had underestimated Pakistan’s response to their unprovoked attack.
As the conflict spiraled, US President Donald Trump announced on May 10 that a ceasefire had been reached after intense diplomatic efforts overnight. The two sides gradually reduced the number of troops from the international border in the following weeks.
