NEW DELHI: Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif has retracted his earlier statement suggesting that India's “incursion was imminent” following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack .
Speaking to Geo News, Asif claimed his comments were misinterpreted, though he maintained that tensions remain high.
“I think it has been misinterpreted on another channel, Samaa. I’ve already spoken to them. I did not say anything like that. They asked me about the chances of war, and I said the next two to three days were crucial,” Asif told Geo News.
“If something has to happen, it will occur in the next two to four days. Otherwise, the immediate danger will pass,” he added.
This comes after Asif's earlier remarks to Reuters, where he said the military had briefed the Pakistani government on the possibility of an attack from India.
“We have reinforced our forces because it is something which is imminent now. In such a situation, some strategic decisions had to be taken — and those decisions have been made,” Asif told *Reuters*.
He also mentioned that "some of our friends in the Arabian Gulf have talked to both sides,” without naming the countries involved.
In a separate interview with Samaa TV, Asif had stated there was a “very vivid possibility” of war breaking out between India and Pakistan.
“We should be mentally prepared. There is a war looming on the horizon. The possibility is there — a very vivid possibility — that we could have war in the next day or two, or three or four,” he said.
Asif’s remarks come at a time when the Indian government is preparing for decisive action against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, which continues to threaten peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Pahalgam attack, which took place on April 22, left 26 people — mostly tourists, including one Nepalese national — brutally murdered at the Baisaran meadow around 2 pm.
It was one of the deadliest assaults in the region since the 2019 Pulwama attack, which claimed the lives of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army has launched multiple search operations and remains on high alert to neutralise the terrorists responsible.
Speaking to Geo News, Asif claimed his comments were misinterpreted, though he maintained that tensions remain high.
“I think it has been misinterpreted on another channel, Samaa. I’ve already spoken to them. I did not say anything like that. They asked me about the chances of war, and I said the next two to three days were crucial,” Asif told Geo News.
“If something has to happen, it will occur in the next two to four days. Otherwise, the immediate danger will pass,” he added.
This comes after Asif's earlier remarks to Reuters, where he said the military had briefed the Pakistani government on the possibility of an attack from India.
“We have reinforced our forces because it is something which is imminent now. In such a situation, some strategic decisions had to be taken — and those decisions have been made,” Asif told *Reuters*.
He also mentioned that "some of our friends in the Arabian Gulf have talked to both sides,” without naming the countries involved.
In a separate interview with Samaa TV, Asif had stated there was a “very vivid possibility” of war breaking out between India and Pakistan.
“We should be mentally prepared. There is a war looming on the horizon. The possibility is there — a very vivid possibility — that we could have war in the next day or two, or three or four,” he said.
Asif’s remarks come at a time when the Indian government is preparing for decisive action against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, which continues to threaten peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Pahalgam attack, which took place on April 22, left 26 people — mostly tourists, including one Nepalese national — brutally murdered at the Baisaran meadow around 2 pm.
It was one of the deadliest assaults in the region since the 2019 Pulwama attack, which claimed the lives of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army has launched multiple search operations and remains on high alert to neutralise the terrorists responsible.
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