ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Diya TV) — Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has once again sparked regional concern with a series of provocative statements directed at India following recent cross-border skirmishes and diplomatic fallout over the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, India.
In a televised interview, Asif warned that if India attacks Pakistan and threatens its existence, there will be catastrophic consequences. “If India attacks and Pakistan’s existence is threatened, nobody will survive. We won’t let any other country live on this planet either,” Asif said, echoing past threats that have alarmed international observers and regional peace advocates.
Tensions have been steadily escalating after Indian forces launched precision strikes under Operation Sindoor targeting nine alleged terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PK). According to Indian defense sources, the strikes were carefully calibrated to avoid civilian areas and military installations, showcasing India’s intent to deter without widening the conflict.
The operation was launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which left multiple Indian security personnel dead. Top Indian intelligence officials told CNN-News18 that Pakistan’s military and intelligence leadership have been on edge since the strikes, with Asif’s rhetoric seen as a “sign of desperation.” The officials also noted that Asif faces political pressure from his home constituency in Sialkot, a city close to the India-Pakistan border, which could be directly affected in any conflict.
In an interview with CNN, Asif doubled down on his aggressive stance, warning that if India avoids diplomacy, Pakistan will resort to armed retaliation. “If India does not talk at the diplomatic and political table and [through diplomatic] channels, we will talk and respond with guns. Pakistan does not have time to wait and show patience. We have to stop India here,” he said.
The interview took a surreal turn when Asif claimed Pakistan had shot down five Indian Rafale fighter jets. When pressed by the CNN anchor for evidence, he cited Indian social media posts as proof. “It’s all over social media, on Indian social media, not on our social media. The debris of these jets fell in Kashmir,” he said. The anchor quickly pushed back, emphasizing that social media cannot replace verifiable intelligence. When asked if Chinese military equipment was used in the alleged incident, Asif dodged the question, saying only, “If India can buy planes from France, Pakistan can buy from China.”
Pakistan’s military has not corroborated Asif’s claim, and no independent or Indian government sources have reported the downing of Indian aircraft. The absence of evidence has added to the perception that the minister’s comments were more bluster than battlefield reality.
Meanwhile, Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes on 15 Indian border cities. However, Indian air defense systems successfully intercepted most of the threats, averting major damage and civilian casualties, according to Indian defense officials.
International media and diplomatic observers have repeatedly criticized Asif for what some call “foot-in-mouth” diplomacy. His recurring threats and lack of substantiated evidence have drawn scrutiny at a time when nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan can ill afford further provocation.
With diplomatic channels under strain and both sides trading military and rhetorical blows, regional stability hangs in the balance. Analysts warn that while such statements may serve domestic political ends, they could dangerously escalate a conflict neither country can afford.
