'Miscalculation has consequences': Pakistan's Khawaja Asif responds to Rajnath Singh's statement on Pahalgam attack anniversary

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that Islamabad would respond “swiftly, calibrated, and decisively” to any attack, amid escalating rhetoric between Pakistan and India.

War of Words Between India and Pakistan

Asif’s remarks came in response to statements by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who said any “misadventure” by Pakistan would invite an “unprecedented and decisive” response.

Speaking at an event in Kerala, Singh referred to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, and said India had destroyed terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan following the incident.


He also said that during “Operation Sindoor”, Indian forces had brought Pakistan “to its knees within 22 minutes”.

Pakistan Accuses India of ‘Strategic Anxiety’

Responding on X, Asif said India’s repeated statements reflected “strategic anxiety” ahead of the anniversary of the Pahalgam attack.

“Such threat-mongering is not new; it is part of a predictable pattern, externalising internal fragility and attempting to provoke escalation under the garb of unsubstantiated allegations,” he said.

Pakistan's Warning of Stronger Retaliation

Recalling a brief four-day conflict between the two countries in May last year, Asif warned that any future confrontation would invite a stronger response from Pakistan.

“History is a stark reminder that miscalculation has consequences,” he said, adding: “The next time, our response will be even more forceful and decisive.”

Pahalgam Attack and Rising Tensions

The Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, triggered a sharp escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan, leading to a brief but intense military confrontation.

Since then, relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have remained strained, with periodic exchanges of strong statements from both sides.

Inputs from agencies