Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has strongly responded to recent remarks from Indian military and political leaders, particularly the statement that India "can cross any border" if necessary. Asif warned that any such attempt would result in severe consequences for India, stating it would be "buried under the debris of its own planes".
Asif's remarks follow a period of heightened tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The exchange was triggered by Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi's warning to Pakistan to cease sponsoring terrorism if it wished to "remain on the world map". Dwivedi also stated that India would not show the same restraint it had during the conflict in May 2025.
The Pakistan Army also reacted to the statements, calling them "delusional, provocative and jingoistic". The military warned that a future conflict could lead to "cataclysmic devastation" and that Pakistan would "resolutely respond, without any qualms or restraint". They added that Pakistan has established a "new normal of response" which would be "swift, decisive and destructive".
Asif took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his views, dismissing the Indian statements as a "failed attempt" to restore their "lost reputation" following the events of May. He referred to the May conflict, during which Pakistan claimed to have shot down six Indian jets, and stated that if India were to initiate another conflict, the outcome would be even worse for them. "After such a decisive defeat with a score of 0–6, if they try again, the score God willing will be much better than before… This time India will be buried under the wreckage of its own planes," Asif stated. India has acknowledged some losses but denied losing six aircraft.
The May 2025 hostilities, sparked by an attack on Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir in April, marked the most serious confrontation between the two countries in recent years. India blamed Pakistan for backing the attack, which Islamabad denied. The conflict saw an exchange of missile, drone, and artillery strikes before a ceasefire was brokered through US mediation.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have remained high, with downgraded relations affecting trade, travel, and sports. Pakistan's military has accused India of fabricating pretexts for aggression, while India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of cross-border terrorism. Islamabad has consistently refuted these allegations.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, echoed the sentiment, warning that provocative remarks from Indian military leaders risked triggering a conflict with "cataclysmic devastation". The ISPR asserted that Pakistan would respond without hesitation if hostilities were to resume. They also responded to the threat of "erasing Pakistan from the map," saying that any such attempt "will be mutual".
In response to the April attack, India launched "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, targeting alleged terror infrastructure in Pakistani-controlled territory. This operation triggered four days of intense clashes. India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has also stated that any misadventure by Islamabad in the Sir Creek sector would invite a "decisive response".
