Following India's military strikes, a video has surfaced showing Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif appearing to struggle when questioned about the situation, fueling speculation and drawing criticism. The incident occurred shortly after India conducted "Operation Sindoor," a series of strikes targeting what it claimed were terrorist camps within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The strikes, which took place in the early hours of Wednesday, May 7, 2025, were reportedly a response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. India stated that the targets were carefully selected to avoid civilian and military infrastructure, focusing instead on locations where militants were believed to be residing.
Pakistan swiftly condemned the strikes, branding them an "unprovoked and blatant act of war". The Pakistani military declared it would retaliate "at a time and place of its own choosing". However, amidst the escalating tensions, Khawaja Asif's reaction to questions about the Indian strikes has drawn attention.
In a video circulating online, Asif appears to have difficulty hearing the questions posed to him, repeatedly asking for them to be repeated. This has led to criticism and speculation about Pakistan's response to the situation. Some observers have interpreted Asif's apparent struggle as a sign of disarray or unpreparedness within the Pakistani government.
Despite the initial threats of retaliation, Asif later softened his stance, suggesting a willingness to de-escalate tensions if India "backs down". In an interview with Bloomberg TV, he stated that Pakistan would "wrap up" hostilities if India ceased its actions. "This has been initiated by India. If India is ready to back down, they have taken the initiative, we have just responded," Asif said. "We have been saying all along, for the last fortnight, that we will never initiate anything hostile against India. But if we are attacked, we will respond. If India backs down, we will definitely wrap up these things".
These remarks mark a significant shift from Asif's earlier, more assertive comments, where he warned of a forceful response if India attempted to occupy any Pakistani territory. He had previously stated that Pakistan's response would be both "kinetic and diplomatic" and would not be long in coming.
The United States has stepped in to encourage de-escalation, with U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Natalie Baker meeting with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss the situation. The U.S. State Department has indicated that it is actively engaged with both countries, urging them to avoid further escalation.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that a series of drone incursions by India are making a Pakistani response "increasingly certain". He highlighted the rising tensions and noted the U.S. is taking the lead in global de-escalation efforts. Pakistan has claimed to have downed at least 29 Israeli-made Harop drones launched by India. These drones allegedly entered Pakistani airspace and were detected over multiple cities before being neutralized.
