New Delhi: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has once again sparked controversy with an offbeat explanation for his country’s failure to intercept Indian drones during recent cross-border hostilities. Asif claimed that the Pakistani Army intentionally refrained from targeting the Indian drones to avoid revealing their defense positions.
Asif’s remarks were made in reference to the recent escalation following India’s “Operation Sindoor,” which took place on May 8. The operation saw Indian forces carry out successful precision strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), retaliating for the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the loss of 26 lives.
During a speech in Pakistan’s Parliament, Asif defended the military’s actions, stating, “I can’t go into the details. But we didn’t intercept Indian drones during yesterday’s attack as we didn’t want to give away our defense positions.” This comment was widely criticized for its implausibility, as it suggested that allowing foreign drones to operate freely was a tactical decision to protect military positions.
Asif had earlier issued a warning to India, saying that Pakistan would respond with force if diplomatic channels failed. “If India does not talk at the diplomatic and political table, we will talk and respond with guns. Pakistan does not have time to wait and show patience. We have to stop India here,” he asserted.
His latest statement follows a string of controversial remarks, including a previous incident where he attempted to justify Pakistan’s claims of shooting down Indian fighter jets during Operation Sindoor by citing “social media content” as proof. This assertion was ridiculed internationally and led to further embarrassment for the minister.
The failed interception of Indian drones on May 8 has only intensified speculation about Pakistan’s military capabilities and response strategies. The Indian strikes targeted terror infrastructure linked to the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) group, including the notorious Bahawalpur headquarters, believed to be a hub for militant activity.
