Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif Speaks On India’s Retaliation, Reaches Out To Gulf Countries News24 –

As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif has discussed the country’s willingness to use nuclear weapons if the situation deteriorates. In an exclusive interview with Reuters, the minister stated that an Indian military strike is imminent. The rift between the two countries escalated following the Pahalgam attack on April 22nd, which killed 26 tourists in Kashmir.

Khawaja Muhammad Asif Speaks On India’s Retaliation

“We have reinforced our forces because it is something which is imminent now. So in that situation some strategic decisions have to be taken, so those decisions have been taken,” Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif gave an interview to Reuters at his office in Islamabad.

According to the report, Asif mentioned that India’s statements were becoming more aggressive, and Pakistan’s military had informed the government about the possibility of an Indian attack. However, the report says that Pak defence minister didn’t provide more details on why he thought the attack could happen soon.

Islamabad Reaches Out To China And Gulf Countries

The report also quotes him as saying that Islamabad has reached out to friendly countries, including Gulf states and China, and has briefed the United Kingdom, the United States, and other nations on the situation. The minister also indicated that ‘a few friends’ in the Arabian Gulf had discussed matters concerning both sides. “Some of our friends in the Arabian Gulf have talked to both sides,” Asif said, without naming the countries.

About the Indus Water Treaty

On Monday, China expressed hope that both countries would show restraint and welcomed any actions to reduce tensions. Asif mentioned in the exclusive interview that, so far, the United States has not got involved in the situation. Since the Kashmir attack, both India and Pakistan have taken several tough actions against each other. India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, an important agreement about sharing river water. In response, Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian airlines.

Asif said that cutting off water to vulnerable areas is like an “act of war.” He also pointed out that international organisations support the Indus Waters Treaty, which has survived previous conflicts.
He added that Pakistan has already approached the concerned authorities about the treaty and called on the international community and the World Bank to help protect it.

Pahalgam Attack On April 22, 2025

The April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists, is sure to deal a significant setback to Kashmir. Beyond the brutality of the attack, experts expect it to negatively impact the valley, which had shown promising signs of recovery after decades of hardship. Pakistan-based controllers and infiltrators lured local individuals into terrorism, hindering this recovery.

Observers view it not only as a tragic loss of lives but also as a potentially severe setback to the region’s economy, which had recently begun to recover. The attack could harm the economic revival that was beginning to take place, especially in the tourism sector.

The attack’s aftermath will likely have widespread consequences, especially on tourism. The attack could undo or disrupt years of gradual economic improvement in Kashmir, built through strengthened security, increased investor confidence, and growing tourist footfall.