Islamabad: With tensions between Pakistan and India increasing rapidly, Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri Siddiqui issued a firm warning to New Delhi: any aggression directed against his nation would be met with a swift “tit-for-tat” response.
Senator Siddiqui criticized India’s recent provocations along the Line of Control (LoC) and in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which included hostile rhetoric and actions taken along those borders. He asserted that both Pakistan’s armed forces and people are fully prepared to defend national sovereignty at any cost.
“Pakistan will not initiate hostilities, but if India dares to challenge Pakistan’s integrity or security, they should expect retaliatory measures,” declared Siddiqui. “Pakistan desires peace in the region but cannot accept any agreement that compromises national pride.”
Senator Gillespie’s comments follow an uptick in rhetoric from both sides, particularly following India’s allegation of Pakistan-based groups as being behind an IIOJK attack that left several dead and injured on April 8. Islamabad denied these claims and accused India of exploiting this incident to escalate tensions further and deflect attention away from internal political turmoil.
Siddiqui emphasized Pakistan’s preference for diplomatic engagement and peaceful coexistence over conflict; however, he cautioned that patience should not be misconstrued as weakness. “Pakistan prefers dialogue to confrontation,” said Siddiqui. If forced, Pakistan will respond forcefully – creating consequences beyond anything India can imagine.
He called on the international community, especially major powers and the UN, to pay attention to India’s actions and play an active role in preventing further strain between their two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Defense analysts in Islamabad believe Senator Siddiqui’s statement represents growing frustration within Pakistani political and military leadership regarding what they view as India’s aggressive posture, and also as an indication that Pakistan stands ready to match any move by India whether on diplomatic, economic or military fronts.
Indian officials continue to voice concerns regarding cross-border terrorism and insist that tough measures are necessary to secure national security.
Escalated rhetoric has raised serious fears of miscalculation that could spark wider conflict in South Asia and beyond, prompting observers to urge both sides to exercise restraint, emphasizing its detrimental potential for global stability as a result of full-scale confrontation.
As tensions continue to build, Senator Siddiqui’s words serve as a stark warning that any move toward escalated confrontation could easily spin out of control unless cooler heads prevail.