ISLAMABAD, May 9 (Alliance News): Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday assured the National Assembly that Pakistan would not succumb to any external pressure and would respond to Indian aggression with full preparedness, strictly targeting military installations rather than civilians.
He said the armed forces of Pakistan were “200 percent ready” and had already demonstrated operational capability on the Line of Control (LoC) and other sensitive locations. “The people should remain satisfied. Our armed forces are vigorously confronting the enemy,” he said.
Criticizing Indian media, Khawaja Asif said India is trying to mislead its citizens by hiding its military failures. “There is a flood of lies in Indian media. They won’t admit the scale of their humiliation,” he added.
He referred to the alliance between India and Israel as “natural,” claiming both countries share a history of hostility towards Islam. “Their anti-Islam stance is no secret,” he emphasized.
The minister highlighted the diplomatic support Pakistan has received, stating that Turkey and Azerbaijan have openly backed Pakistan, while even India’s traditional allies have remained silent. He said Pakistani leadership is in daily contact with Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and China.
Khawaja Asif stressed the need for strengthening diplomatic efforts further. “Our friendly nations are standing with us, but we must intensify our international outreach,” he said.
He disclosed that the drone attacks launched by India targeted strategic locations. “We deliberately waited before intercepting the drones to protect our key positions from being exposed. Once they came within range, they were shot down,” he said.
He also noted that madrassas and their students form a secondary line of defense and praised the ongoing counter-attacks. “Our forces are actively responding around the clock and are in a strong position,” he concluded.
