Conflict with India can occur at any moment, warns Khawaja Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated on Tuesday that a military confrontation with India appears "inevitable," citing escalating regional tensions and signs of potential aggression from New Delhi.

Speaking on private news channel, Asif said government briefings indicate the possibility of hostilities in the near future. “A confrontation could occur at any moment,” he warned.

The minister issued a strong warning against any Indian attempts to seize Pakistani territory, stating, “India will pay a heavy price for any strategy aimed at occupying even an inch of our land.”

Asif also condemned India’s recent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, vowing a forceful response. “If Indian leaders attempt to block our water, they will drown in it,” he said. “Should India build any structures to stop our rivers, we will destroy them.”

Read more: UN chief offers mediation between Pakistan, India to defuse tensions

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) headquarters for a security briefing amid heightened tensions with India. He was accompanied by Defence Minister Asif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and military leaders.

A statement from the PM Office said the briefing focused on “preparedness against conventional threats” in light of India’s increasingly assertive posture along the eastern border.