Pakistan Warns of Retaliation as Khawaja Asif Alleges Possible Indian Strike Along LoC

ISLAMABAD – Amid rising tensions between Pakistan and India following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday warned that India may be planning a military strike along the Line of Control (LoC).

“There are reports suggesting that India may launch a strike at any point along the LoC. Any such action will be met with a strong and appropriate response,” Asif stated during a press briefing in Islamabad.

The already strained bilateral relations have significantly deteriorated since the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, where gunmen killed 26 people. India swiftly blamed Pakistan for the assault without providing evidence and implemented a series of retaliatory steps. These included suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, revoking visas for Pakistani nationals, and closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing.

In retaliation, Pakistan expelled Indian diplomats and military officials, cancelled all Indian visas—except for Sikh pilgrims—and shut down its main border crossing with India.

Pakistan has categorically denied involvement in the Pahalgam attack and has offered to join a transparent and impartial international investigation. Defence Minister Asif reiterated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s call for an international commission to probe the incident. “Only an independent investigation can determine the truth—whether India itself or an internal element was behind the attack,” he said.

Read more: Tarar & DG ISPR Brief Political Leaders on India Tensions; PTI Stays Away

Asif went further, accusing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using baseless accusations against Pakistan for political gain. “An international investigation will determine whether Modi is lying. Only then can we justifiably call him a liar who is endangering regional and global peace,” he added.

He also accused India of sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, citing earlier submissions to the United Nations in 2016 and 2017 that included video evidence of Indian funding for terrorist groups.

“Recent terror activities in KP and Balochistan are being orchestrated from Afghan soil, with Indian backing,” he claimed.

Responding to a question about the absence of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in a recent high-level security briefing, Asif said he was unaware of the party’s reasons for skipping the session. He pointed out that both houses of Parliament have passed resolutions addressing the current security situation and emphasized national unity.

“If anyone wants to call an All Parties Conference (APC), they are welcome to do so. But our stance as a nation is clear and united,” the minister concluded.