ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has declared that a retaliatory response from Pakistan is now inevitable following recent drone strikes carried out by India.
Speaking to a British news agency, Asif said that all avenues for de-escalation have been exhausted and that the ongoing Pakistan-India conflict is heading toward a dead end.
He asserted that Indian drones caused no damage to Pakistan’s defense systems, specifically denying Indian claims regarding impact on Lahore’s military installations. However, he warned that Pakistan’s response would target Indian military infrastructure.
”India’s actions have left no room for diplomatic engagement. Our response will be firm and targeted,” Asif said.
The Pakistani military reported that 25 Israeli-made Herop drones launched from India were shot down over several key locations including Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Chakwal, Attock, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Karachi, and Chhor. According to the ISPR (Inter-Services Public Relations), four soldiers were injured in Lahore, and one civilian was killed in Mianwali, Sindh.
The ISPR spokesperson condemned the attacks as “cowardly” and a sign of “India’s desperation and panic,” noting that the drones were intercepted using both soft-kill (jamming) and hard-kill (kinetic) systems.
Meanwhile, the United States is reportedly leading international efforts to mediate and reduce tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
This flare-up marks one of the most serious escalations in recent years, with regional stability now hanging in the balance.
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