In a fiery escalation of rhetoric between New Delhi and Islamabad, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday issued a direct threat to India, warning that the country would be “buried under the wreckage of its warplanes” if it dared to launch another offensive.
Asif’s provocative remarks came just days after Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi declared that Pakistan risked being “erased from the world map” if it continued to harbour and sponsor cross-border terrorism.
The verbal exchange marks one of the sharpest rhetorical confrontations since Operation Sindoor, the Indian military campaign launched earlier this year in response to a deadly terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Background: Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam Attack
The latest tension traces back to April 22, 2025, when heavily armed militants attacked a convoy of pilgrims near Pahalgam in south Kashmir, killing 18 and injuring dozens.
The attack, traced to Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, provoked widespread outrage across India.
In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror camps and launchpads deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes were described as “precision attacks” aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure.
For nearly four days, intense cross-border hostilities followed — involving drone incursions, artillery duels, and limited aerial skirmishes.
The confrontation ended on May 10 after backchannel talks reportedly mediated by Gulf countries, leading to a cessation of military operations.
While India described the operation as a “resounding success” that neutralised multiple terror facilities, Pakistan responded with denial and counterclaims — including the now-disputed assertion that it had downed six Indian fighter jets, a claim for which no evidence has been provided.
Asif’s Retort and the “0–6” Claim
Addressing a rally in Sialkot, Khawaja Asif lashed out at India’s top leadership, calling their warnings “provocative and desperate attempts to salvage lost credibility” following what he termed a “humiliating defeat” during Operation Sindoor.
The statements of the Indian military and political leadership are a failed attempt to restore their tarnished reputation,” Asif declared. “After such a decisive defeat with a score of 0–6, if they try again, the score — God willing — will be far better than before.”
Analysts interpret Asif’s reference to the “score of 0–6” as a continuation of Islamabad’s unsubstantiated claim of having shot down Indian aircraft during the May conflict — a claim dismissed by Indian and international observers as baseless propaganda.
India’s Firm Warning: “Enough Is Enough”
General Dwivedi’s earlier remarks were made during a visit to forward posts in Rajasthan, where he reviewed the Army’s operational readiness.
The Army Chief said that India had shown restraint in Operation Sindoor, choosing to limit escalation despite provocations — but warned that such patience should not be mistaken for weakness.
If Pakistan continues to export terrorism across our borders, it will cease to exist on the world map,” Dwivedi stated unequivocally, drawing a clear line against state-sponsored terrorism.
His warning came in the wake of repeated attempts by Pakistan-based groups to infiltrate the Line of Control (LoC) and revive militant networks in Kashmir.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, echoing Dwivedi’s stance, had also cautioned Pakistan that India would “not tolerate another Pahalgam or Pulwama” and would respond with overwhelming force if provoked again.
The Broader Context: Old Rivalries, New Realities
India and Pakistan have fought four wars since 1947 and have engaged in several limited conflicts and standoffs — from Kargil in 1999 to the Balakot airstrikes in 2019.
However, the rhetoric this time is being viewed through a sharper lens, as Operation Sindoor showcased India’s evolved military doctrine of “swift, precise, and punitive retaliation” to terror provocations.
While Pakistan continues to deny its role in cross-border militancy, its diplomatic isolation has grown. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and multiple international bodies have repeatedly flagged Islamabad’s leniency toward terror financing and safe havens.
As India’s military chiefs and ministers speak in one voice about “erasing terrorism at its roots,” Pakistan’s response — laced with nuclear undertones and wartime bravado — appears aimed as much at domestic audiences as at New Delhi.
A Dangerous War of Words
Observers warn that such inflammatory rhetoric from both sides risks hardening positions at a delicate time. With tensions simmering along the LoC and political instability within Pakistan, even a minor border incident could spiral into confrontation.
Yet, amid all the posturing, the central message from India remains consistent — that peace is possible only when terrorism ends.
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