New Delhi: In yet another sharp escalation of war of words between the two nuclear neighbours, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a strong warning to India, saying that in any future conflict, Pakistan would strike as deep as Kolkata.
Speaking to reporters in his hometown of Sialkot, about 130 km from Lahore, on Saturday, Asif said, “If India tries to stage any false flag operation this time and holds us responsible for any (military) operation, then we will target up to Kolkata.” He added that Pakistan’s response would not remain limited like previous encounters.
The statement appears to be a direct reply to recent remarks by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who had warned that any “misadventure” from the neighbouring country would invite an unprecedented and decisive response. Asif had earlier on Thursday described Pakistan’s likely reply as “swift, calibrated and decisive.”
He also alleged that India might be planning a “false flag” operation involving bodies to blame Pakistan, though he offered no evidence to support the claim.
This comes nearly a year after the Pahalgam attack in April last year that triggered a four-day military confrontation between the two sides.
Asif’s remarks have once again raised tensions along the border and drawn attention to how quickly rhetoric can heat up even without active fighting on the ground. While such statements are not new from Pakistani leaders, mentioning a major Indian city like Kolkata — far from the usual western border zones — has caught many eyes in both countries.
The focus remains on whether these words will stay as tough talk or lead to any real shift in the fragile peace between India and Pakistan.