Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a warning that his country cannot rule out the possibility of an “all-out war” with India, underscoring Islamabad’s need to remain on maximum alert along its eastern and western borders. His remarks, made during an interview with Samaa TV, come amid heightened tensions between the two countries and repeated claims from Islamabad that it is engaged in a “two-front” conflict.
Full Alert on Borders
Khawaja Asif emphasized that Pakistan is preparing for the worst-case scenario. “We cannot ignore India in any way… We are not ignoring India, and our preparation and alert are at maximum. We cannot trust India in any way. We cannot rule out an attack, as India can directly intervene. It can continue attacks from there [presumably Afghanistan], and it can go for an all-out war as per its strategy,” Asif said.
The Defence Minister’s statement reflects Pakistan’s longstanding perception of India as a persistent threat along its eastern frontier. Asif’s reference to potential Indian activity from Afghanistan highlights Islamabad’s view that New Delhi has influence in Kabul and could exploit it to exert pressure on Pakistan.
Asif has repeatedly argued that Islamabad is effectively engaged in a two-front conflict, facing threats both from India along the east and from Afghanistan in the west. He claimed that India does not want Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their differences and is actively seeking to destabilize the region.
Context: Operation Sindoor and Indian Preparedness
Asif’s remarks come just hours after Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi issued a statement regarding Operation Sindoor, the 4-day military confrontation with Pakistan in May 2025. Dwivedi described the operation as an “88-hour trailer,” warning Islamabad of India’s readiness to respond decisively if provoked again.
“As far as Sindoor 1.0 is concerned, I would like to say that the movie had not even started. We just showed them a trailer and that trailer ended in 88 hours… We are fully prepared for how things unfold in the future, and if Pakistan gives us a chance again, we will educate them on how a responsible nation should behave with its neighbours,” Dwivedi said at a military event.
The statement underscores India’s view that the confrontation in May was only a demonstration of its military capabilities, and that any future misadventures by Pakistan would be met with a calibrated and overwhelming response.
Islamabad’s Perspective and Accusations
Khawaja Asif has made repeated claims that Pakistan is fully prepared to fight a two-front war. Speaking last week, he stated, “We are ready for war on two fronts. We are ready, we are prepared to face both the eastern [India] and western border [Afghanistan]. Allah helped us in round one, and he will help us in round two.”
The Defence Minister has also alleged that India is using Afghanistan as a proxy to threaten Pakistan, claiming that the Taliban leadership is being manipulated by New Delhi. While discussing Islamabad’s recent clashes with Kabul, he warned that India “could play dirty at the border.” Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of sponsoring terrorist proxies behind incidents such as the recent bombing in Islamabad, a charge that India has categorically rejected.
Regional Implications
Khawaja Asif’s statements come at a time of heightened tension in South Asia, where border skirmishes, proxy conflicts, and geopolitical maneuvering have intensified mistrust between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Pakistan’s emphasis on full military preparedness and the possibility of an all-out war signals a rising security dilemma in the region.
India, for its part, has maintained that any aggression will be met with a measured and overwhelming response, as articulated by General Dwivedi. The Indian stance emphasizes deterrence, demonstrating military readiness without seeking escalation, while Pakistan continues to frame its posture as defensive against a perceived two-front threat.
Historical Context
The tension between India and Pakistan has been characterized by decades of military confrontations, cross-border skirmishes, and proxy conflicts, particularly in Kashmir and along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Islamabad has frequently claimed that India supports opposition groups within Pakistan and uses Afghanistan strategically to apply pressure. India, meanwhile, has consistently rejected these claims, maintaining that it supports stability and democratic governance in the region.
Operation Sindoor, mentioned by General Dwivedi, was one of the most significant recent military confrontations, lasting four days and resulting in tactical gains for India while signaling its readiness for rapid and decisive action. Khawaja Asif’s references to a potential second round indicate that Pakistan views the situation as unfinished business, even as India portrays the previous operation as merely a “trailer.”
Strategic Messaging
Both Asif and Dwivedi’s statements reflect the use of public messaging as a tool of strategic signaling. Pakistan’s Defence Minister is emphasizing alertness and preparation to both domestic and international audiences, while Indian military leadership is underscoring its capability to respond decisively to any provocations.
The rhetoric also has domestic political dimensions, as military preparedness and assertive stances are often leveraged by governments in both countries to bolster nationalistic support and convey strength to internal constituencies.
Conclusion
Khawaja Asif’s warning about a potential “all-out war” with India adds another layer of tension to already strained India-Pakistan relations. With claims of a two-front threat, concerns about Afghan involvement, and the shadow of Operation Sindoor, the situation remains volatile.
India’s response, articulated by General Dwivedi, signals deterrence and preparedness without escalating into open conflict, reflecting the delicate balance each country must maintain in a region where miscalculations can have serious consequences.
As South Asia continues to navigate these geopolitical tensions, both nations’ statements serve as reminders of the fragile nature of peace and stability along their shared borders and the importance of measured diplomatic and military engagement to avoid escalation into full-scale conflict.
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