Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned of a strong response to any perceived provocation from India, stating that Islamabad could target Kolkata in the event of escalation.
His remarks came during an interaction with reporters in Sialkot, signalling a further rise in tensions between the two countries.
“If India tries to stage any false flag operation this time, then God-willingly, we will take it to Kolkata,” Asif said.
Asif also raised concerns about a potential “false flag” scenario, alleging that India might attempt to orchestrate an incident to justify further action.
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has issued another threat, specifically mentioning Kolkata.
— OsintTV 📺 (@OsintTV) April 4, 2026
He claims:
"They [plan] some kind of false-flag operation through their own men or through the Pakistanis in their detention by planting bodies somewhere and claiming they were… pic.twitter.com/QYKeWe3wCb
He suggested that such an operation could involve local actors or individuals in custody, though he did not present evidence to support these claims.
The statement follows earlier remarks in which the minister said Pakistan’s response to any attack would be “swift, calibrated, and decisive.”
The comments from Islamabad come shortly after India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned that any “misadventure” by Pakistan would invite an “unprecedented and decisive” response.
The exchange of statements reflects ongoing strain in bilateral relations, with both sides reiterating their positions on security and retaliation.
The current phase of tension traces back to the Pahalgam attack on April 22 last year, which triggered a brief but intense four-day conflict between India and Pakistan.
Since then, both countries have continued to exchange strong rhetoric, with developments closely watched across the region.