Is Pakistan prepared for an all-out war with India? Pak defence minister explains

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said his country is not worried about retaliation from India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and added that if India attacks, Pakistan will retaliate in kind.

In an interview with British news channel Sky News, the Pakistan defence minister dismissed allegations that Pakistan had a role in the attacks that left 26 people dead on Tuesday.

He blamed India for the Pahalgam terror attack, saying, "They create these situations..." and claimed that such attacks are staged by India. According to him, India never presented evidence for the terror strikes it faced for which they blamed Pakistan.

ALSO READ: A firm warning to Pakistan? Rafales, Su-30MKIs roar as IAF launches war drill simulating assault scenarios

However, when the news anchor asked him what evidence did he have to substantiate his claim that India staged the attack, he said the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba does not exist anymore, although an offshoot of the organisation, named The Resistance Front (TRF), claimed responsibility for the attack.

When asked about Pakistan's long history of sponsoring terror, he said, “We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for three decades, and West, including Britain. That was a mistake, we suffered for it.”

He said Pakistan is already prepared for a possible strike from India. “We are already prepared for it. Any eventuality which will take place...we will retaliate.”

When he was asked if the world should be worried about the clash between two nuclear powers, he said, “Yes, I think so. The clash between two nuclear powers is always worrisome.”

In a message to New Delhi, he admitted that while India and Pakistan may have problems, these should be solved through negotiations and urged India not to escalate the situation as an all-out war will have serious repercussions for not just both the countries, but for the world. 

Defence