Defense Minister Says Military Briefed Government on Possible Indian Attack
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday clarified that his earlier remarks about an "imminent Indian military incursion" following last week’s deadly attack on tourists in Indian-occupied Kashmir had been misunderstood.
Speaking to Reuters at his office in Islamabad, Asif said, “We have reinforced our forces because the situation now appears imminent. Given the circumstances, strategic decisions had to be made, and those have been taken.”
He explained that, in light of increasing rhetoric from India, the Pakistani military had briefed the government about the potential for an Indian attack. However, he did not disclose any specific intelligence or assessments behind this warning.
Asif emphasized that Pakistan remained highly alert but would only consider the use of its nuclear arsenal if its existence was directly threatened.
In a separate interview on a private news channel, Asif stated: “We should be mentally prepared; there is a looming threat of war. It is very possible that conflict could arise within the next few days.”
However, later during another interview on a different channel, Asif clarified that his comments had been misinterpreted. “I believe my statement was misunderstood on another platform. I have spoken to them, and I never said anything definitive like that," he said. "They asked about the likelihood of war, and I responded that the next two to three days would be crucial.”
He further explained that his remarks were not meant as a prediction of imminent war, but rather an acknowledgment that the situation was sensitive and required close attention. He mentioned that the channel involved was correcting its earlier reporting.
While acknowledging that "the threat persists," Asif reiterated that he had not suggested war was inevitable. He also highlighted that efforts by regional players were underway to de-escalate tensions and prevent conflict.
"Pakistan is fully prepared to respond to any threat to its sovereignty or any hostile act," Asif affirmed. He concluded by stressing that while the possibility of conflict in the near term remained, diplomatic efforts to avoid such an outcome were actively ongoing.
0 Comments