KEY POINTS
- Pakistan’s Defence Minister warns of “full force” response if India imposes war
- Defence Minister says Pakistan’s armed forces are always ready to defend homeland
- Senator Irfan Siddiqui accused India of fabricating allegations without investigation
- Indian forces crackdown in IIOJK angered Kashmiris
- China and the US urged both countries to exercise restraint
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday warned that the country is fully prepared to respond with “full force” if neighbouring India initiates any military action, amid rising tensions following the April 22 incident in the Pahalgam area of Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Speaking to a private television channel, the Defence Minister said that the situation remained highly volatile.
“Three to four days are crucial. We are 100 percent ready for war,” he said, adding, “If India imposes a war on us, we will respond with full force.”
Clarifying earlier remarks that were widely reported in the media, Asif said his words were being misrepresented.
“I did not say in my interview that war will break out in three to four days,” he said. “Pakistan’s armed forces are always ready to defend the homeland.”
Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours escalated after gunmen attacked tourists in Pahalgam, killing 26 people and injuring 17.
India swiftly blamed Pakistan for the attack without presenting any credible evidence. Pakistan condemned the incident and strongly rejected the Indian baseless allegations.
Instead, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said Islamabad was open to any “neutral and transparent” investigation into the Pahalgam attack.
“We want India’s lies on this issue to be exposed,” Asif said, lamenting that New Delhi had not responded to Islamabad’s offer for a joint probe.
He stressed that Pakistan had no interest in escalating conflict but would not hesitate to defend itself if attacked.
The situation along the Line of Control (LoC) remains tense, with both nations reportedly deploying additional forces and reports of intermittent firing.
After the Pahalgam incident, India unilaterally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a critical water-sharing agreement brokered by the World Bank in 1960.
Pakistan retaliated by threatening to suspend the Simla Agreement and closing its airspace to Indian flights. Islamabad also expelled Indian diplomats and cancelled visas for Indian nationals, except for Sikh pilgrims.
Addressing foreign media in Islamabad, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the country had the capability and resolve to respond to any Indian aggression.
“Pakistan has demonstrated in the past that it will give a befitting response to any misadventure,” he said.
In the Senate, Pakistani Senator Irfan Siddiqui criticised India for its hasty accusations. “The world did not support India’s stance or its fabrications. Their propaganda has been exposed,” Siddiqui said.
He questioned how attackers could have crossed the heavily fenced Line of Control, suggesting that accusations were made even before an investigation was launched.
Meanwhile, the crackdown by Indian security forces in IIOJK following the attack has intensified local resentment.
According to a senior police official quoted by AFP, nine homes have been destroyed and nearly 2,000 people detained.
“Kashmir and Kashmiris are being given collective punishment,” said Aga Ruhullah, a federal lawmaker from Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of IIOJK, urged authorities to ensure that “innocent people do not become collateral damage.”
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday called for a neutral and credible investigation into the incident, accusing India of exploiting the tragedy for political gain.
“The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game, which must come to a grinding halt,” he said.
International calls for restraint have grown. China urged both India and Pakistan to “exercise restraint” and “properly handle relevant differences through dialogue and consultation,” according to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun.
Guo reaffirmed China’s support for a fair investigation into the Pahalgam attack and stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence for regional stability.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a phone call with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, reiterated Beijing’s consistent support for Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts and its legitimate security concerns.
The United States has also urged caution. “This is an evolving situation and we are monitoring developments closely,” a State Department spokesperson said. “The United States encourages all parties to work together towards a responsible resolution.”
