Pakistan has strongly condemned recent remarks by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the Kashmir dispute, calling them “highly provocative and irresponsible” and warning that India should not underestimate Pakistan’s resolve to respond to any aggression.
In a statement issued on Monday, Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) rejected Singh’s comments, saying they distorted the internationally recognised status of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and threatened regional peace and stability.
The response came after Singh stated that there would be “no talks with Pakistan” and that any future discussions would only concern Azad Jammu and Kashmir, which he claimed was “illegally occupied by Pakistan.” He also warned that any “misadventure” by Pakistan would receive a response “beyond their imagination.”
Rejecting these assertions, the Foreign Office said the Kashmir dispute remains an unresolved international issue that continues to be on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. It accused India of attempting to divert international attention from what it described as its continued occupation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, as well as allegations of sponsoring terrorism across the region.
The FO further stated that India’s rhetoric of aggression should not be mistaken for strength, warning that Pakistan remained fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Referring to Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, Pakistan said the resolve demonstrated by its people and armed forces during last year’s conflict should serve as a reminder against any future “adventurism.”
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours remain high following the four-day military confrontation in May 2025. The crisis erupted after an attack on tourists in Indian-Illegally Occupied Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan without publicly presenting any evidence. Islamabad denied any involvement and instead called for an independent international investigation. The hostilities ended after diplomatic intervention by the United States resulted in a ceasefire on May 10.
The Foreign Office also urged the international community, particularly the United Nations, to take notice of what it called India’s “rogue behaviour” and hold New Delhi accountable for failing to implement UN Security Council resolutions guaranteeing the right to self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Separately, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif echoed the government’s position, saying India’s repeated attempts to alter internationally recognised legal realities through political rhetoric could not change the facts on the ground. While reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peace and dialogue, he stressed that the country’s resolve to safeguard its national security and territorial integrity “must never be tested.”
