ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif emphasized that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is exclusively for national defense and not intended to serve as leverage for nuclear blackmail or coercion.
In an exclusive interview with media on Friday, he stated: “Our nuclear capabilities do not threaten anyone. They are purely a safeguard for our national security.” Targeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Asif remarked: “Modi now perceives Pakistan and its military even in his dreams. For him, the prospect of conflict with Pakistan has become a nightmare.”
He further noted that Pakistan has a history of fighting and winning wars in self-defense, whereas Modi faces internal dissent within India itself.
“There is increasing opposition within India, even among citizens and political leaders, who believe Modi’s policies have brought the region to the edge of war,” he added. The military confrontation between Pakistan and India occurred in May 2025, following an attack on tourists in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in April, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad. The two sides reached a ceasefire after intense conflict.
In response to Indian aggression, Pakistan’s armed forces launched a large-scale retaliation called “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos,” targeting multiple Indian military sites across various regions.Pakistan shot down six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, along with numerous drones. After approximately 87 hours, hostilities ceased on May 10, with a ceasefire brokered by the United States.
The ceasefire was initially announced by U.S. President Donald Trump via social media following talks with both nations. However, India rejected Trump’s claims that his intervention played a decisive role, and dismissed threats to halt trade negotiations. Criticizing Modi’s leadership, Khawaja Asif pointed out that India’s political and economic stature has declined under his tenure. He added that Modi’s failures have opened opportunities for India’s opposition, who are capitalizing on his missteps.
Addressing security issues, the defense minister accused India of supporting terrorism within Pakistan and internationally, alleging Modi’s involvement in recent incidents in Pakistan and Canada.He claimed that groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Taliban factions operating in Pakistan are proxies of India, and Pakistan possesses concrete evidence of Indian involvement, which has been shared at international forums. “If we adopt a neighborly approach, peace in South Asia is achievable. The people of this region deserve economic growth and stability,” he concluded.
