Tensions Between Nuclear Rivals Soar as Pakistan Warns of Possible War with India

[Social Media]

 

Tensions Between Nuclear Rivals Soar as Pakistan Warns of Possible War with India

 

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a stark warning that the ongoing conflict over a deadly shooting in Kashmir could spiral into a full-scale war between Pakistan and India. In an interview with Sky News' The World with Yalda Hakim, Asif said that his country is prepared to respond decisively if provoked by New Delhi, underlining the seriousness of the crisis between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

 

The warning comes in the wake of a brutal shooting at a popular tourist site in Indian-administered Kashmir, which left 26 people dead. The Indian government was quick to accuse Pakistan of involvement in the attack, a charge that Asif flatly denied. He claimed the incident was staged by India itself, suggesting it was a "false flag" operation designed to provoke hostility.

 

 

"We will measure our response to whatever is initiated by India. It would be a measured response," Asif told Sky News. "If there is an all-out attack or something like that, then obviously there will be an all-out war."

 

The Defence Minister emphasized the global ramifications of the conflict, particularly given the nuclear capabilities of both countries. "Yes, I think so," he said when asked whether the world should be concerned. "The clash between two nuclear powers is always worrisome... If things get wrong, there could be a tragic outcome of this confrontation."

 

The longstanding Kashmir dispute remains a flashpoint in South Asia. Both India and Pakistan claim the territory in its entirety but control different parts. The region has been a source of bloodshed for decades, with tens of thousands of lives lost. In recent years, relative calm had been restored, but the latest incident has shattered that fragile peace.

 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to the attack with a vow to pursue the perpetrators "to the ends of the Earth," a pledge that has further fueled tensions. However, Asif insisted that India was behind the incident. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely, they create these situations," he said, doubling down on his claim that the attack was orchestrated by New Delhi.

 

Despite the heightened rhetoric, Asif expressed hope that a diplomatic solution might still be possible. "We should be solving our problems through negotiations," he said. When asked whether U.S. President Donald Trump should intervene to mediate the crisis, Asif responded affirmatively.

 

"Definitely he leads the world power, the sole world power and he has been talking to different parties in different flashpoints all over the world," he said. "And this is also a flashpoint which has two nuclear powers that are drawn with each other. I think the attention of this situation and if the world power can intervene and there's some sort of sanity can be brought to this situation, it will be good."

 

But he made it clear that Pakistan would not stand down if attacked. "Otherwise, if there is an initiative by India, we'll respond in kind. We will not have any option, have absolutely no option."

 

The comments underline the fragility of peace in the region and the urgent need for de-escalation to avoid a potentially catastrophic confrontation.

 

 

  Adpated by ASEAN Now from Sky News  2025-04-26

 

 

[Tug]

Now here’s the one to watch in my opinion you have religious nuts involved here.

[JAG]

In the last decade the UK has given some £2.3 billion  in aide to India and some £665 million to Pakistan. 

 

Now I have no problem with, in fact I actively concur with, aide to help with for example, health, extreme poverty, clean water, child nutrition in the poorest countries of the world.

 

I do really object to it going to countries which can afford nuclear weapons programmes, and whose bearded loonies in their militaries are enthusiastically threatening to use them on each other.

 

In fact, on Foreign Aid, I think we should seriously rethink it. Not cutting the amount dedicated to it, but seriously targeting it to those who really need it.

[FlorC]

Tensions Between Nuclear Rivals Soar as Pakistan Warns of Possible War with India

 

Again ?

[klauskunkel]

8 hours ago, Social Media said:

When asked whether U.S. President Donald Trump should intervene to mediate the crisis, Asif responded affirmatively.

Trump would buy Kashmir, problem solved.

[Watawattana]

Would it not be better if Pakistan spent their energy finding then arresting these murderers, and then handing them over to India to prosecute?  I see a few parallels with Israel & Hammas/Hezbollah here.

[thesetat]

Perhaps India was correct in their accusations then... Somehow I do not see India as looking to begin a war with a nuclear powered country. 

3 hours ago, Watawattana said:

Would it not be better if Pakistan spent their energy finding then arresting these murderers, and then handing them over to India to prosecute?  I see a few parallels with Israel & Hammas/Hezbollah here.

 

[MicroB]

Now at war.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwyneele13qt

 

 

 

Restraint these days includes launching ballistic missiles at a neighbour.

 

[FlorC]

Hopefully the wind is not coming from the east for us here in Thailand.

[Chomper Higgot]

On 4/26/2025 at 9:31 AM, JAG said:

In the last decade the UK has given some £2.3 billion  in aide to India and some £665 million to Pakistan. 

 

Now I have no problem with, in fact I actively concur with, aide to help with for example, health, extreme poverty, clean water, child nutrition in the poorest countries of the world.

 

I do really object to it going to countries which can afford nuclear weapons programmes, and whose bearded loonies in their militaries are enthusiastically threatening to use them on each other.

 

In fact, on Foreign Aid, I think we should seriously rethink it. Not cutting the amount dedicated to it, but seriously targeting it to those who really need it.

Like those in India and Pakistan who have no access to healthcare, live in extreme poverty, no access to clean water and who suffer problems of child nutrition, while their own Government ignores their plight.

 

I guess they could trek across the world in search of a bitter life.

[proton]

Lets hope Pakistan gets a good thrashing by India 

[JAG]

30 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Like those in India and Pakistan who have no access to healthcare, live in extreme poverty, no access to clean water and who suffer problems of child nutrition, while their own Government ignores their plight.

 

I guess they could trek across the world in search of a bitter life.

1) I presume you mean "a better life".

 

2) I agree that it is profoundly wrong, no, I would go further and say it is an obscenity, that both India and Pakistan choose to spend money on nuclear weapons programmes whilst so many amongst their population have no access to healthcare, live in extreme poverty, no access to clean water and suffer problems of child nutrition. 

 

3) Is it a coincidence that you have chosen to make a comment, 10 days on from my comment, sardonically and totally falsely suggesting perhaps that I am linking this with illegal immigration, but in no way adding to or contradicting my point, 24 hours after our exchange over HAMA'S abuse of the Geneva Convention. An exchange which you were unable to close.

 

 

[FlorC]

7 hours ago, MicroB said:

Now at war.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwyneele13qt

 

 

 

Restraint these days includes launching ballistic missiles at a neighbour.

 

China as west Taiwan , I like it !

I wonder how long that stays on.

[sharot724]

 

[Chomper Higgot]

28 minutes ago, sharot724 said:

 

 

Rest assured if it had happened on Biden’s watch Trump supporters, both foreign and domestic, would be blaming him for it.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, JAG said:

1) I presume you mean "a better life".

 

2) I agree that it is profoundly wrong, no, I would go further and say it is an obscenity, that both India and Pakistan choose to spend money on nuclear weapons programmes whilst so many amongst their population have no access to healthcare, live in extreme poverty, no access to clean water and suffer problems of child nutrition. 

 

3) Is it a coincidence that you have chosen to make a comment, 10 days on from my comment, sardonically and totally falsely suggesting perhaps that I am linking this with illegal immigration, but in no way adding to or contradicting my point, 24 hours after our exchange over HAMA'S abuse of the Geneva Convention. An exchange which you were unable to close.

 

 

1. Yes, thanks for correcting my typo.

2. Yes it’s an obscenity, but not one the poorest of these nations can do anything about.

3. ‘10 days’ , I hadn’t noticed, nor was I aware of any time limit on responding to comments.
 

No I’m not suggesting you are linking this with ‘migration’, illegal or otherwise. People migrating to escape poverty is a thing, always has been, always will be.

 

 

[youreavinalaff]

India has money for a space program and now, it seems, they have enough for a war.

 

Yesterday, I saw an appeal on TV to send money to help with Indian kids' eyesight.

 

There is a newly signed trade agreement between UK and India and UK also sends India millions a year in financial aid.

 

It's time to stop this madness. Stop all aid to India and suspend the trade agreement until India stop the war and their space program and spend their money taking care of their populations health and wellbeing.

[JonnyF]

5 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Like those in India and Pakistan who have no access to healthcare, live in extreme poverty, no access to clean water and who suffer problems of child nutrition, while their own Government ignores their plight.

 

So why reward these corrupt, callous governments with billions of pounds from UK taxpayers?

 

5 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

I guess they could trek across the world in search of a bitter life.

 

I doubt they want to end up like you Chomps. 😃

[WorriedNoodle]

On 4/26/2025 at 7:03 AM, Social Media said:

When asked whether U.S. President Donald Trump should intervene to mediate the crisis, Asif responded affirmatively.

 

"Definitely he leads the world power, the sole world power and he has been talking to different parties in different flashpoints all over the world," he said. "And this is also a flashpoint which has two nuclear powers that are drawn with each other. I think the attention of this situation and if the world power can intervene and there's some sort of sanity can be brought to this situation, it will be good."

Yet all Trump has said is "its a shame", a bit like someones grandmother might say when their offspring have been up to some mischief.

[johng]

2 hours ago, youreavinalaff said:

Stop all aid to India and suspend the trade agreement until India stop the war and their space program and spend their money taking care of their populations health and wellbeing.

 

If the UK stops all aid to other countries ( hint Ukraine)  and ends their space program too  and spends the money on taking care of the UK population then I'm in total agreement.

[thesetat]

5 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

Rest assured if it had happened on Biden’s watch Trump supporters, both foreign and domestic, would be blaming him for it.

No... if it happened while he was president. Money and arms would be sent to both countries to make sure they are both well supplied. 

[BLMFem]

11 minutes ago, WorriedNoodle said:

Yet all Trump has said is "its a shame", a bit like someones grandmother might say when their offspring have been up to some mischief.

The last time there was a serious flare-up between India and Pakistan was during Trump 1.0 (2019), and at that time there were actually the odd grown-up left in the administration.

What happened then was that Mike Pompeo got called in the middle of the night, and he again started calling both sides, significantly reducing tensions.

 

This time around there are no grown-ups left, the State Department is being gutted and the go-to guy for high-level diplomacy is a realtor with as much international diplomatic experience as the checkout clerk at your local Walmart.