Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has issued a stark warning, declaring that an Indian drone incursion has brought the two nuclear-armed rivals to the brink of open conflict, and a military response from Pakistan is now “inevitable.”
Speaking to a British news agency, Asif stated that while the Indian drones did not cause damage to any military installations in Lahore, the act itself is considered a provocation severe enough to justify a direct counter-strike.
“India’s aggression has closed all doors to de-escalation,” Asif said. “This dispute is headed into a dead-end street. Pakistan will strike back, and military installations will be targeted in response.”
The Defence Minister hinted that Indian pilots may be reluctant to fly in the current environment, forcing the Modi government to rely on Israeli-made drones for its cross-border provocations.
“The fact that India is using foreign drones shows the hesitation within their own armed forces,” he added, while welcoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate the crisis.
Despite mounting international efforts, led by the United States, to cool tensions, Asif made it clear that Pakistan’s hand has been forced. “India has taken this too far. The balance of power in the region demands a strong and clear response,” he emphasized.
In a related development, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed to the same agency that national security advisers from both countries have made contact behind closed doors — signalling ongoing diplomatic back-channels, even as the rhetoric escalates.
The situation marks a dangerous new phase in India-Pakistan relations, with military escalation looming and global powers now actively watching every move on the subcontinent.
