Standoff with India could lead to ‘war’, warns Pakistan

LONDON: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that the current standoff with India over the recent Kashmir shooting could spiral into an ‘all-out war’.

Speaking to Sky News show The World with Yalda Hakim, Asif said the world should be “worried” given the nuclear capabilities of both nations.

He expressed hope for a diplomatic solution but added that Pakistan’s military was “prepared for any eventuality.”

His remarks came after 26 tourists were killed in Indian-held Kashmir, an attack New Delhi blamed on Pakistan. Asif rejected the claim, calling it a “false flag operation” staged by India.

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“We will respond proportionately to any Indian move,” he said. “But if there’s an all-out attack, then expect an all-out war.”

When asked if the world should be concerned, Asif replied, “Yes, absolutely. A clash between two nuclear powers is always dangerous… If this goes wrong, the consequences could be tragic.”

Tensions have flared once again in the disputed region of Kashmir, claimed by both countries. Decades of conflict have claimed tens of thousands of lives, though violence had somewhat eased — until this week’s deadly incident reignited fears of a wider conflict.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to hunt down those behind the Kashmir attack, saying they will be pursued “to the ends of the Earth.”

But in an interview with Sky News, when asked whether he held India responsible, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif responded firmly, “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely, they create these situations.”

Despite the strong accusation, Asif stressed the importance of dialogue, saying, “We should be solving our problems through negotiations.”

Asked if U.S. President Donald Trump should intervene in the escalating crisis, Asif welcomed the idea. “He leads the sole world power and has been engaging in flashpoints across the globe,” he said. “This is another flashpoint—between two nuclear-armed nations. If global powers can step in and restore sanity, that would be a positive step.”

He warned, however, that if India initiated any aggressive move, Pakistan would be left with “no option” but to respond in kind.