Defence Minister Warns War with India Remains ‘a Possibility’ Amid Proxy War Allegations

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has cautioned that the risk of conflict with India persists, describing it as “a possibility” in the absence of any direct or indirect dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

In an interview with France 24, Asif accused India of orchestrating a “proxy war” against Pakistan, claiming New Delhi is collaborating with the Taliban-led government in Kabul to sponsor militant activities targeting Pakistan. He asserted that India, Afghanistan, and terrorist groups are “on the same page” in their alleged efforts to destabilise Islamabad, linking recent terrorist incidents inside Pakistan, including attacks attributed to groups like the TTP and Daesh, to this supposed alliance.

Asif referenced a brief military confrontation in May 2025, which he portrayed as a decisive Pakistani victory. He claimed Pakistan’s air force “decimated” Indian attempts to violate its airspace and “humiliated” New Delhi internationally, after which India shifted to proxy tactics.

The minister emphasised that Pakistan does not desire war and has pursued diplomatic channels, including engagements in Istanbul, Doha, and Kabul, though these have yielded no results. However, he warned that frozen relations and ongoing threats leave the door open for escalation.

Asif also reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to conduct further air strikes inside Afghanistan if Kabul fails to provide “assurances of peace” and curb militant sanctuaries on its soil. He ruled out normalising ties with Israel under current conditions, tying any future consideration to Palestinian self-determination.