India “playing with fire”: Pakistan issues dire warning over military tensions

Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has issued a stern warning to India over its increasingly provocative rhetoric, cautioning that New Delhi is “playing with fire.”

In an interview with the BBC, General Chaudhry reaffirmed Pakistan’s preference for peace while emphasizing its readiness to defend itself if war is imposed, Caliber.Az reports per Pakistani media.

“While Pakistan desires peace, it is fully prepared for war if one is imposed,” he stated, underscoring Islamabad’s firm stance amid rising cross-border tensions.

Addressing concerns about potential military escalation, the army spokesperson categorically ruled out the notion of nuclear conflict, branding it as an act of sheer folly. “A nuclear war between India and Pakistan would be ‘foolish’ and catastrophic for both countries,” he said, describing such a prospect as “unthinkable and irrational,” with mutual destruction being the inevitable outcome.

Despite recent flare-ups, Lieutenant General Chaudhry stressed that Pakistan has acted with measured restraint, aiming to avoid further deterioration of regional stability. However, he accused India of perpetuating a false and outdated narrative. “India is pushing a false and outdated narrative, trying to create conditions for military conflict,” he said, warning that even a minor incident could trigger serious consequences. “A spark could ignite conflict at any time.”

Responding to India’s accusations of cross-border involvement in militant activities, the DG ISPR reiterated Pakistan’s openness to accountability. “If India has evidence, it should share it,” he said, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to regional peace and its willingness to act against any individual proven to be involved in such activities.

The latest escalation began after India blamed Pakistan for a deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, located in the disputed region of Indian-occupied Kashmir. In retaliation, the Indian Air Force conducted a series of airstrikes between May 6 and 7. Pakistan responded with its own military operation, codenamed Operation Banyan Mersous.

A ceasefire was eventually brokered on May 10 by US President Donald Trump, bringing a temporary halt to hostilities between the two nuclear-armed nations. The fragile calm, however, remains under threat as diplomatic and military rhetoric on both sides continues to harden.

By Vafa Guliyeva