Khawaja Asif’s 'Pakistan two-front war' gets louder
Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, has once again sparked controversy with a highly provocative statement, claiming his nation is "fully-prepared" for a Pakistan two-front war. Speaking at a public event, Asif declared that Pakistan is ready to face hostilities on both its eastern border with India and its western border with Afghanistan.
"We are ready for war on two fronts... Allah helped us in round one and He will help us in round two," Asif stated, projecting military confidence despite ongoing internal and economic challenges in Pakistan.
This aggressive rhetoric comes just a day after a devastating suicide bombing rocked Islamabad, killing 12 people and injuring 36 others. While the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) quickly claimed responsibility for the attack, Asif directed his blame towards Kabul.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Defence Minister framed the Islamabad suicide bombing as a "message from the Afghan Taliban." He warned, "The rulers of Kabul can stop terrorism in Pakistan, but bringing this war all the way to Islamabad is a message... to which Pakistan has the full strength to respond."
Asif's comments are seen as an attempt to rally support and project strength. However, he also stirred further controversy by dismissing the recent deadly car blast in Delhi, which claimed 13 lives near the Red Fort.
In a baffling comment, Asif referred to the tragedy as merely a "gas cylinder explosion" and accused India of "politicising the incident." He preemptively suggested India would "soon blame Pakistan for it."
Indian officials have strongly refuted the Khawaja Asif statement. Senior security sources characterized his remarks as "a desperate attempt to deflect attention" and a sign of "Islamabad's nervousness."
This is especially relevant as forensic reports from the Delhi blast indicate the involvement of "military-grade explosives," directly contradicting the Pakistani minister's "gas cylinder" theory. The episode has further strained the already tense India-Pakistan relations and highlighted the volatile security situation in the region.
