In a powerful and uncompromising message to India, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has stated that Pakistan will never submit to Indian hegemony, and any form of aggression will be met with a swift, strong, and strategic response.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency, Lt Gen Chaudhry emphasized that while Pakistan remains a peace-loving nation, its sovereignty and dignity are non-negotiable. “India is not the US, and Pakistan is not Afghanistan. India is not Israel, and Pakistan is not Palestine. Pakistan will never be deterred,” he declared, underlining Pakistan’s steadfast refusal to accept regional dominance from New Delhi.
Pakistan Values Peace But Is Ready to Defend Its Sovereignty
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif clarified that Pakistan is not an aggressor. In fact, it continues to play a responsible role in promoting regional peace and stability. However, he made it abundantly clear that any hostile move from India would provoke a decisive reaction.
“We are not a violent nation; we are a serious nation. Our first priority is peace,” he said during an interview with RT Arabic, as reported by PTV News. He highlighted that peace is the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign and defense policy — but not at the cost of its honor or autonomy.
India’s Actions Escalating Tensions: From IIOJK to Water Politics
The ISPR chief’s comments come in the wake of several provocative moves by India. After a terrorist attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), India hastily suspended the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty—a move many analysts regard as a dangerous escalation. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, a claim Islamabad has firmly rejected.
Early May saw Indian cross-border strikes not only across the Line of Control (LoC) but even deep into Pakistan’s mainland. In response, Pakistan launched precision retaliatory strikes on 26 Indian military installations before a ceasefire, brokered by the United States, came into effect on May 10.
Still, the calm remains tentative.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statement threatening to halt water flow into Pakistan has ignited international concern. For Pakistan, this is a red line.
“It is some madman who can think that he can stop water of 240 million-plus people of this country,” said Lt Gen Chaudhry in a stern warning via Arab News. “If that moment comes, the world will witness the consequences that will last decades.”
Rising Extremism in India and the Fallout for the Region
The DG ISPR also drew attention to growing extremism and internal unrest in India, blaming it on the Modi-led government’s harsh domestic policies—particularly those targeting Muslims and Sikhs. “Such crackdowns are only fueling hate and instability within India itself,” he warned, suggesting that India’s aggressive posture may be a diversion from internal unrest.
This rising extremism, according to Chaudhry, is not just a domestic issue for India but a regional concern that threatens the peace and security of all South Asia.
A Call for Regional Peace Based on Mutual Respect
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry’s words underline a deeper principle — peace cannot be achieved through dominance, coercion, or arrogance. Pakistan’s message is simple: respect for sovereignty and mutual coexistence is the only path to lasting peace in the region.
The military spokesperson reminded the world that countries like the United States understand Pakistan’s peace-first approach. “Great and sensible powers understand the spirit of Pakistan’s people,” he concluded.