Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a grave warning, stating that there is a “clear and present” threat of nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. The statement comes in the wake of India’s Operation Sindoor, a large-scale precision strike targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Asif, speaking to Geo TV, said that while Pakistan has faced such escalations before, the risk of a full-blown nuclear standoff in the region cannot be ignored. “The threat is real. We have seen these situations in the past, and once again we find ourselves at a critical juncture,” he added.
This comes just a day after Pakistan claimed it shot down five Indian warplanes in retaliation, alleging civilian casualties from India’s strikes — 26 people killed and 46 injured, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Sharif had earlier warned, “India will have to pay for the attack on Pakistan,” vowing to take revenge and calling India’s move to carry out cross-border strikes a “mistake.” He added, “Pakistan stands with its army and will fight and win.”
India, meanwhile, has maintained that the operation specifically targeted terror infrastructure, avoiding Pakistani military installations and civilian zones. No Indian losses have been officially reported.
As tensions continue to rise and diplomatic backchannels remain quiet, the region is on edge with heightened military alertness on both sides of the border.
