Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that the threat of war with India remains intact and has not diminished despite months of regional developments, declaring that Pakistan will soon overcome terrorism and will continue responding to threats emanating from Afghan soil. He said India is attempting to avenge its recent humiliation by using Afghanistan as a proxy, while the international community—particularly the United States continues to acknowledge Pakistan’s position and actions.
Speaking to the media, the Defence Minister said there had been a serious risk of another armed conflict with India immediately after the May confrontation, in which Pakistan decisively repelled Indian aggression. He emphasised that although the situation stabilised following international intervention, the danger of war “has neither disappeared nor fully receded,” and India continues to maintain an expansionist posture in the region.
Khawaja Asif said New Delhi was still seeking to retaliate for what he described as its military embarrassment during the May engagement, in which the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down seven Indian aircraft, including Rafale fighter jets, and destroyed the S-400 air defence system. “India is trying to recover from the humiliation it suffered and is attempting to take revenge by exploiting Afghan territory,” he remarked.
He stated that Pakistan’s position has gained significant global recognition, noting that the international community is openly appreciating Islamabad’s role in ensuring regional stability. “Our victory over India has been certified by the United States,” he said, adding that the US President had previously intervened to prevent escalation and halt potential conflicts in the subcontinent.
Discussing regional security dynamics, the Defence Minister said the proxy war against Pakistan has been continuing for decades and remains a defining feature of modern hybrid warfare. He said Pakistan has repeatedly informed the world that Afghan territory is being used by hostile elements to target Pakistan, and that Islamabad has shared actionable evidence with Kabul. “Whatever Afghanistan claims is absolutely false,” he stressed.
Khawaja Asif disclosed that Pakistan had held three rounds of talks with Afghan authorities over cross-border attacks. He said terrorists of Afghan origin were involved in the recent attack in Wana, describing the incident as a clear example of Kabul’s failure to prevent its soil from being used against Pakistan. “Pakistan will definitely respond to terrorism coming from Afghanistan,” he said, warning that Islamabad cannot allow such actions to go unanswered.
He further said that internal divisions within the Afghan Taliban government were extensive and complicating regional security. These fissures, he added, were also contributing to the increasing use of Afghan territory by groups hostile to Pakistan.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to national security, Khawaja Asif vowed that the country would continue strengthening its defence posture and would not hesitate to take necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and respond to any aggression—whether direct or proxy.
