Desk Report:
A few days ago, the Indian Army Chief threatened to wipe Pakistan off the map. This time, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif gave a strong response to the statement of India’s top security establishment on Sunday morning. He said that if India imposes war, then “India will be buried under the pile of its fighter jets that Pakistan has destroyed, Insha Allah.”
Pakistani media outlet Geo News said that in a post on social media, Khawaja Asif said that the recent statements of Indian military and political leaders are actually a failed attempt to restore their lost credibility. He claimed that these statements indicate pressure on the top leadership.
Khawaja Asif wrote, “If they try again after such a one-sided 6-0 defeat, Pakistan’s score will be even better.” Asif said that public opinion in India has now turned against the ruling party. That is reflected in the words of the leaders. He also said, “Pakistan is a state established in the name of Allah, our protectors are the soldiers of Allah. This time, India will be buried under the rubble of their planes, Insha Allah.” Allahu Akbar.’
Earlier, the Pakistan Army spokesperson also reacted to India’s comments on the same issue. In response to the Indian leaders’ remarks, the Pakistan Army warned that provocative and warmongering remarks could create a pretext for aggression and result in terrible devastation.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of the Pakistan Armed Forces said that such remarks indicate that India is once again trying to create a false pretext for aggression. The consequences could be dire for peace and stability in South Asia.
A day earlier, Indian Air Force Chief Amar Preet Singh claimed that India had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets (F-16 and JF-17) during the clash between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in May. He said at a press conference, ‘As part of air defence, we have evidence of a long-range strike. Along with this, our system has also shown evidence of the destruction of five advanced fighter jets (F-16 and JF-17 class)’. However, Singh could not provide any evidence.
The Pakistan Army has rejected India’s claim, saying that India has long portrayed itself as the victim, while it has been instigating violence and spreading terrorism in South Asia and beyond. This false narrative has now collapsed.
The ISPR also said that the international community now recognizes India as the “real face of cross-border terrorism and the epicenter of regional instability.” Referring to incidents earlier this year, the ISPR said that India’s aggression once pushed the two nuclear powers to the brink of a major war. However, the Indian leadership has forgotten the wreckage of its fighter jets and the power of Pakistan’s long-range weapons.
The Pakistan Army has warned that a new conflict could lead to “terrible devastation” if it breaks out. It also said that Pakistan will never back down. If hostilities break out, it will respond “without hesitation, without any restraint.”
The ISPR said that those who want to create a new reality should understand that Pakistan has also created a new reality – the response to which will be swift, specific and destructive. The Pakistan Army also said that there is a response to the threat to wipe Pakistan off the map. If the situation comes, then both sides will be destroyed.
Meanwhile, security sources have termed India’s threat as ’empty rhetoric’. They said that the Pakistan Army is fully prepared to defend the country.
Last May, the two countries witnessed the worst conflict in decades. It began after an attack on tourists in the Pahalgam area of Jammu and Kashmir. 26 people were killed. India alleged that Pakistan was behind the attack. However, Islamabad denied any involvement. Pakistan said that India had been killing civilians along the border for three days without provocation.
The Pakistan Army then launched a defensive ‘Operation Bunyan-um-Marsus’. In this operation, Pakistan shot down six Indian fighter jets (three of which were Rafales) and more than a dozen drones. After at least 87 hours of fighting, the fighting ended on May 10 with US mediation.
