Islamabad — Pakistan’s army on Thursday warned that it will give a strong response to any attack on the anniversary of last year. Tension with neighboring India lasted for four days It brought the nuclear-armed rivals to the brink of war before a US-brokered ceasefire stopped the fighting.
The Army said any “hostile designs” against Pakistan would be countered with “greater force, precision and resolve” than what India had seen during the May 2025 conflict, which Islamabad named “Marka-e-Haq” or “battle of truth”.
Pakistan and India had exchanged tit-for-tat attacks 26 people, most of them Hindu tourists, have been killed in an attack by gunmen in the Indian-controlled part of the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan-backed militants for the massacre in Pahalgam town, a charge denied by Islamabad while demanding an independent investigation.
India launched strikes inside Pakistan on 7 May, following which Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes, including drone infiltration, missile strikes and artillery fire. Dozens of people from both sides were killed before a ceasefire was reached on May 10 following US mediation.
At that time Pakistan had claimed it At least seven Indian military aircraft were shot downWhich also includes French-made Rafale fighter jet. India acknowledged some damage but did not provide details.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly taken credit for helping to avoid widespread war.
Speaking at a televised press conference, Army spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary said India had blamed Pakistan for the attack on tourists in Kashmir within minutes of the firing without presenting any evidence.
“It has been a year since the Pahalgam incident, yet the questions raised by Pakistan remain unanswered,” he said. Chaudhary said that Pakistan does not underestimate India’s military capability but is fully prepared to respond to any “adventure”.
“We are ready; if anyone wants to test us, they are welcome,” he said along with Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral Shifat Ali and Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Projects) Air Vice Marshal Tariq Ghazi. However, Choudhary said: “We are not looking for conflict, we are not looking for war. But we know how to protect ourselves with dignity and respect.”
Ali said the Indian Navy had attempted to deploy ships in the North Arabian Sea during the fighting in an attempt to target Pakistan’s naval assets and disrupt maritime trade routes. “But due to the effective strategy of Pakistan Navy, maritime traffic remained uninterrupted on all our waterways,” he said.
At Thursday’s briefing, Ghazi said Pakistan had shot down eight Indian fighter planes during the clash. He said that Pakistan has exercised restraint and its air force has the capability to cause more damage to the enemy.
Pakistan and India have long had tense relations And they have fought two of their three wars on Kashmir, which both claim in their entirety.
