- Proxy warfare remains a tool of modern warfare: Khawaja Asif.
- He says the May conflict raised immediate concerns of war.
- Asif says US intervention prevented further escalation.
ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that the risk of another war with India remains, emphasizing that proxy conflicts remain a constant threat decades after they began.
“The proxy war has never really ended; it has intensified in recent years,” Defense Minister Asif said during a talk show on a private television channel.
He explained that proxy warfare began in the 1980s and has become a tool of modern warfare. Lahore and Rawalpindi have recently experienced explosions related to these tensions, he said.
Asif added that the immediate threat of war was high after the May conflict, saying: “After the May clash, there was a possibility of another war, and that risk has not gone away.”
Highlighting Pakistan’s defensive successes, he said the United States certified Pakistan’s victory and intervened to prevent further escalation.
In May, the Pakistan Air Force shot down seven Indian aircraft, including the Rafales, and destroyed an S-400 defense system.
He concluded by reaffirming that despite these measures, the danger of conflict with India remains a serious concern for Pakistan’s security system.
The four-day war between the two nuclear-armed nations was triggered by India’s illegal missile attacks inside Pakistan, which resulted in the martyrdom of several civilians and security personnel.
Pakistan, apart from shooting down several Indian fighter jets, launched a retaliatory strike against over 20 Indian military installations in multiple regions.
Hostilities ended on May 10 after the two countries agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
Months after the conflict, a report presented to the United States Congress recognized Pakistan’s military success over India.
The report, submitted by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, noted that Pakistan deployed advanced Chinese weaponry during the conflict to enhance its military advantage over India.
The report mentions for the first time the successful use of China’s modern weapons systems in active combat, including the HQ-9 air defense system, PL-15 air-to-air missiles and J-10C fighter jets.
