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Pakistan's military issued stark warnings Saturday about the potential for devastating conflict with India, responding to what it called "provocative" statements from senior Indian defense officials that have escalated tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
The Pakistani army's statement followed remarks by Indian army chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, who warned Friday that Pakistani forces "will not show restraint next time" and demanded that Pakistan stop "supporting" terrorism if it wants to retain its place on the world map.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had further inflamed tensions Thursday, declaring that any Pakistani "misadventure" in the disputed Sir Creek sector would be met with a "strong and decisive" response that could "change both history and geography." The Sir Creek is a 96-kilometer tidal estuary claimed by both India's Gujarat state and Pakistan's Sindh province.
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"We have noted with grave concern the delusional, provocative and jingoistic statements coming from the highest levels of the Indian security establishment," Pakistan's military said in its statement Saturday.
The Pakistani military warned that future hostilities could have unprecedented consequences. "In the face of highly provocative statements ... we caution that a future conflict might lead to cataclysmic devastation. In case a fresh round of hostilities is triggered, Pakistan shall not hold back. We shall resolutely respond, without any qualms or restraint," the statement read.
Pakistan's military claimed it possessed "the capability and resolve to take the fight to every nook and corner of the enemy's territory," adding: "This time we shall shatter the myth of geographic immunity, hitting the farthest reaches of the Indian territory."
The exchange came as the latest escalation in rhetoric between the two nations, which fought a brief but intense conflict in May following an attack at a tourist resort in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Four-day fighting between India and Pakistan this May was triggered by the April 22 attack at Pahalgam tourist resort in Indian-administered Kashmir. New Delhi blamed the attack on Islamabad, which denied responsibility and called for a neutral investigation.
India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting sites in Pakistan, which then responded with Operation Bunyanun Marsoos. After an exchange of aerial attacks for four days, US President Donald Trump announced a truce on May 10.
The international community has repeatedly urged both sides to exercise restraint and pursue dialogue to resolve their differences peacefully, given the potential catastrophic consequences of conflict between nuclear-armed neighbors.
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