Pak Army Chief accuses India of using terrorism to destabilise nation; vows decisive response to 'minor provocations’

Islamabad: Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir issued a stern warning to India on Saturday during the graduation ceremony at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul, Abbottabad. Munir cautioned that Pakistan would respond decisively to even minor provocations, emphasising that “there is no space for war in a nuclearised environment.” He asserted that India's military leadership should not be intimidated or coerced by rhetoric and that Pakistan’s armed forces demonstrated "remarkable professionalism" and "far-reaching capabilities" during the recent conflict with India, claiming victory against a numerically superior adversary.

The army chief referenced the Operation Sindoor initiated by India on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam attack on April 22. Munir noted the conflict concluded on May 10 after direct talks between the two countries’ military operations directors.

He accused India of using terrorism as a weapon to destabilise Pakistan and warned that all proxies, including groups operating from Afghan soil such as Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), would be neutralised. Munir urged India to resolve core issues in accordance with international norms, alluding to the longstanding Kashmir dispute. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to provide moral and diplomatic support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Describing Pakistan as a peace-loving nation, Munir highlighted its strong relations with major global powers, including the US and China. The ceremony also saw the graduation of cadets from allied countries like Malaysia, Nepal, Palestine, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Yemen, Mali, Maldives, and Nigeria, underscoring the PMA's role in fostering international military camaraderie.

With inputs from PTI