Days after Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi warned that Pakistan would be erased from the world map if it continued sponsoring terrorism, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued a counter-threat, saying India would be “buried under the wreckage of its warplanes.”
Asif’s statement came on Sunday, shortly after strong warnings from India’s top defence officials — including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Air Chief Marshal AP Singh — who had cautioned Pakistan against any misadventure.
Asif claims India’s leadership trying to ‘restore lost credibility’
Clearly rattled by India’s assertive stance, Asif accused New Delhi’s military and political leadership of making “provocative statements” to regain lost credibility following Operation Sindoor in May.
“The statements of the Indian military and political leadership are a failed attempt to restore their tarnished reputation. 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,” Asif said.
While the Pakistani minister did not elaborate on the “score of 0-6,” the phrase appeared to refer to Islamabad’s unverified claims of shooting down six Indian fighter jets during Operation Sindoor — a claim India has consistently dismissed.
Operation Sindoor and its aftermath
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 this year in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people. The Indian military carried out precision strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), leading to four days of heightened military tension before a ceasefire was reached on May 10.
India maintains that Pakistan sought to end the hostilities after its military facilities suffered extensive damage in the strikes.
Indian Army chief issues stern warning
On October 4, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi warned Islamabad to end state-sponsored terrorism if it wanted to “remain on the world map.”
“India, as a country, is fully prepared this time. And this time, it will not show the restraint that it showed during Operation Sindoor 1.0. We will act in a manner that will make Pakistan think whether it wants to remain on the world map or not,” he said.
His comments underscored India’s renewed military preparedness and growing willingness to respond decisively to cross-border terrorism.
Air Chief claims major Pakistani losses
Backing the Army chief’s remarks, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh revealed that at least a dozen Pakistani military aircraft, including US-origin F-16 jets, were destroyed or damaged during Operation Sindoor.
He added that Indian intelligence confirmed the destruction of multiple radars, command centres, and hangars in Pakistan. “Islamabad’s claims of Indian losses are fanciful stories,” he said.
Rajnath Singh reaffirms India’s resolve
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking at an event in Hyderabad on Friday, warned that India would not hesitate to cross borders to defend its citizens. Citing past operations like the 2016 surgical strike, 2019 Balakot airstrike, and Operation Sindoor, Singh said any misadventure by Pakistan in the Sir Creek region would invite a “decisive response” strong enough to change both “history and geography.”
Sir Creek, a 96-km-long estuary between Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch and Pakistan, remains a disputed territory due to differing interpretations of the maritime boundary.
Strained ties and diplomatic tensions
Bilateral relations between India and Pakistan have deteriorated sharply since the Pahalgam terror attack. India has since suspended talks under the Indus Waters Treaty and made it clear that future engagement with Islamabad will focus only on the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to India.
The escalating war of words between the two neighbours has raised fresh concerns about regional stability, though both sides have avoided direct confrontation since May.