8 hours ago
Last Updated:May 09, 2025, 20:12 IST
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said chances of de-escalation were minimal as tensions soared with India following Islamabad's unprovoked attack on Indian military sites.
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. (IMAGE: X)
As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to escalate amid cross-border skirmishes across the Line of Control (LoC), Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has seemingly declared that there is no option left for Islamabad other than a full-blown war with its neighbour.
Speaking to a Pakistani media outlet, Asif said, “We don’t see any other available means other than this option (war) due to the aggressive actions adopted by India in the last four days. We have tried to de-escalate the situation, but the chances of that seem minimal. We have to pay them back in the same coin."
The minister said people should have no doubts that war was at their doors, although he did not share details on how Pakistan’s military would carry out their operations.
🚨 Pak Def Min Khawaja Asif says no option left other than full blown warNews Anchor ; Are we staring at a full blown war ?
Khawaja Asif ; We dont have any other options other than this …. We have to pay them back in the same qui#tes…
Anchor ; So the war is at our door… pic.twitter.com/392XduqUth
— OsintTV 📺 (@OsintTV) May 9, 2025
Earlier in the day, Khawaja Asif made a bizarre remark, claiming that the Pakistani Army purposely did not intercept the Indian drones as their retaliation would have given away the defence positions to the Indian forces. He was relentlessly trolled on social media once again for these remarks.
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‘Pakistan Will Not De-Escalate With India’
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military spokesperson on Friday said it would not de-escalate tensions with India after consecutive days of missile, artillery and drone attacks, according to Al Arabiya.
“We will not de-escalate — with the damages India did on our side, they should take a hit," said Pakistan Army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. “So far we have been protecting ourselves but they will get an answer in our own timing."
This came after Pakistan launched a brazen and unprovoked attack on India last night, targeting various locations in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab and Gujarat. It tried to attack several military installations in India but the Indian armed forces took out almost all the drones that could have caused damage to the infrastructure. India gave a befitting reply to Pakistan by targeting air defence systems.
India’s Befitting Reply To Pakistani Attack
According to the Indian military, Pakistan sent 300 to 400 Turkish SONGAR drones in 36 locations from Leh to Sir Creek to target military installations. The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means.
Pakistan’s barrage of artillery fire, drone, and missile attacks on multiple locations in J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat came a day after India conducted strikes against terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). An air defence system in Lahore was neutralised during the strike.
On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to avenge the killing of 26 in Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22. The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had claimed responsibility for the killings.
Location :Islamabad, Pakistan
First Published:News world 'No Option Other Than Full-Blown War', Says Pakistan's Defence Minister
