Last Updated:
Top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that Khawaja Asif is afraid that he will lose his constituency in Sialkot if war breaks out and is hence resorting to empty threats
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. (IMAGE: X)
Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif has once again threatened India after Indian forces gave a befitting reply to the neighbour’s unprovoked attacks in border cities.
“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,” Asif said.
This is not the first time the minister has threatened India. Earlier, amid boiling tensions between the two countries, Asif had said if India dared to attack Pakistan, no one would survive. “If India dares to attack Pakistan and Pakistan’s existence comes under threat, nobody will survive in this world.”
Asif has repeatedly been called out by international media outlets for his foot-in-mouth comments since hostilities between India and Pakistan reached a new high in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. India, in retaliation, pounded nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK in precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, showing considerable restraint by avoiding civilian areas and military installations.
Caught napping, Pakistan resorted to unprovoked attacks on 15 border cities of India but the latter’s robust air defence systems thwarted its machinations.
Asif was caught on the back foot once again as he claimed in an interview with CNN that Pakistan had shot down five Indian fighter planes. When asked for proof, he said: “It’s all over social media, on Indian social media, not on our social media. The debris of these jets fell in Kashmir.”
The anchor interrupted the Pakistani minister and said, “The reason to talk to you today is not to talk about content on social media. I’m asking specifically for the evidence, details. For example, was any Chinese equipment used to down these Rafale jets, as I understand you are alleging to be?” Dodging the question, he responded with “if India can buy planes from France, Pakistan can buy from China”.
Top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that Asif’s comments are a “sign of desperation”. “He is afraid of his constituency in Sialkot where he will lose if war breaks out. He doesn’t want to lose in any case. This threat will not work. They have to understand and control terror groups first and give justice to the families of those killed.”
- Location :
Islamabad, Pakistan
- First Published:
