Pakistan fully ready to respond to India says Khawaja Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has declared that Pakistan will not accept any external pressure amid growing tensions with India.

Speaking in the National Assembly on Friday, he assured the nation that Pakistan’s military response would be directed only at Indian military installations and not at civilian areas. He urged citizens to stay calm, stating, “We are 200% ready to respond.”

Khawaja Asif criticized Indian media for spreading false information to hide setbacks faced by the Indian military. He claimed that India was trying to calm its public by avoiding the truth. He also described the growing alliance between Israel and India as “natural,” saying both countries share hostility toward Islam and have a known anti-Islam sentiment.

He emphasized that Pakistan is receiving support from friendly nations, especially Türkiye and Azerbaijan, who have clearly backed Pakistan’s stance. He noted that even India’s close allies have stayed silent during the ongoing crisis. Asif also confirmed that Pakistan’s military is actively countering India’s recent drone activities along the Line of Control. He explained that Pakistani forces initially held back from engaging the drones to avoid revealing their own positions but shot them down once they came within range.

The minister said military retaliatory operations are still in progress and that the army is holding strong positions. He praised the bravery of Pakistan’s armed forces in defending the nation. He also underlined the importance of diplomacy and shared that the Deputy Prime Minister is in daily contact with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and China to keep them informed and involved. Asif called for increasing diplomatic efforts and pointed out that while some countries have shown mild support, Pakistan’s true friends are clearly standing by its side.

In a strong message of national unity, Khawaja Asif described religious seminaries and students as a secondary line of defence and an essential part of the country’s unity. He concluded by reaffirming the readiness of the military, saying, “We are fully ready. The nation can be confident in our response.”