Pakistan capable of responding to Indian actions: Defence minister

Published
153

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's defence minister said on Thursday that the country is capable of responding “befittingly” to Indian actions on the border after several days of clashes in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.

“We do not want the situation on the borders of two nuclear neighbours to escalate into confrontation,” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said in a statement. “India must demonstrate caution and behave with responsibility.”

Defence minister's reaction comes against the backdrop of an earlier statement by his Indian counterpart Arun Jaitley where he 'warned' Pakistan to stop shelling in the disputed region.

Also read: India's defence minister warns Pakistan over LoC skirmish

“If Pakistan persists with this adventurism, our forces will make cost of this adventurism unaffordable for it,” Arun Jaitley had told journalists in New Delhi. “Pakistan should stop this unprovoked firing and shelling if it wants peace on the border.”

At least two Pakistanis were killed in latest firing by Indian troops along the working boundary between India and Pakistan, raising the death toll to 12 and injured to 43.

The situation along the India-Pakistan working boundary is still volatile as a heavy exchange of fire continues.

Military sources say that Pakistani troops are responding to the unprovoked Indian firing and are only targeting military positions and not civilian areas as claimed by the Indian military.

Opinion

Editorial

Eating grass for AI
Updated 19 Oct, 2026

Eating grass for AI

As dependence on AI grows, the bill could reach hundreds of millions of dollars by the end of the decade.
Climate exodus
19 Oct, 2026

Climate exodus

SOUTH Asia may see a vast movement of people as climate change makes parts of the region harder to live in. ...
Settler terrorism
19 Oct, 2026

Settler terrorism

ISRAEL’S genocidal violence in occupied Gaza has understandably captured the world’s attention. Yet another...
State of denial
Updated 18 Oct, 2026

State of denial

If the Taliban regime commits to preventing groups based on its soil from attacking neighbouring states, the process of normalisation and regional integration of Afghanistan can begin.
Suffering in silence
18 Oct, 2026

Suffering in silence

TOO many Pakistani children have nowhere to turn when abused online. An estimated 1.5m internet-using children aged...
Export imperative
18 Oct, 2026

Export imperative

THE government’s efforts to boost Pakistan’s external sector through diversified financing, higher foreign...