Escalating the war of words across the border, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued a sharp public warning, claiming that India would be “buried under the wreckage of its warplanes” if it attempts further military action. The provocative statement, posted on X (formerly Twitter), came in direct response to stern rhetoric from India’s top military brass.
In his post, Asif dismissed recent remarks by India’s military and political leaders as a “failed attempt to restore their lost credibility,” and accused the government in New Delhi of stoking tensions to distract from domestic issues.
“Pakistan is a state built in the name of Allah, our defenders are soldiers of Allah. This time, India, Inshallah, will be buried under the wreckage of its planes. Allahu Akbar,” the Minister wrote, invoking religious sentiments.
India Warns of ‘Decisive’ Response
Khawaja Asif’s remarks followed a strong warning from Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, who on Friday cautioned Pakistan that New Delhi would not show the same “restraint” as during ‘Operation Sindoor 1.0.’ The General stated that future retaliation would force Islamabad to “think whether it wants to be in geography or not,” urging Pakistan to “stop state-sponsored terrorism.”
Meanwhile, top Indian intelligence sources swiftly condemned Asif’s comments, calling them “deeply irresponsible” and a reflection of an “extremist mindset.” Sources asserted that such “hate-filled rhetoric” was a sign of “domestic desperation” within the Pakistani leadership, aiming to “mask internal instability and global isolation” amidst a collapsing economy.
Intelligence sources reaffirmed that India’s credibility rested on “action, not rhetoric,” and warned that any “misadventure” by Pakistan would be met with a “decisive, punitive, and proportionate response.”
Claims and Counter-Claims on Operation Sindoor
The current tensions stem from Operation Sindoor, which India launched in May following the Pahalgam terror attack in April. India maintains that its forces struck terror infrastructure inside Pakistan and destroyed several Pakistani drones and jets.
Earlier, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh revealed that India shot down 12-13 high-tech Pakistani fighters, including F-16 and J-17 jets, during the four-day cross-border confrontation. He dismissed Pakistan’s counter-claims of shooting down Indian fighter jets as “manohar kahaniya” (interesting stories) and challenged Islamabad to provide proof. Pakistan has repeatedly denied sustaining any air losses.