Pakistan Hits Back at India’s ‘Erase from Map’ Warning, Vows Retaliation in Case of Conflict
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warns India of being “buried under the debris of its planes” as both nations exchange sharp rhetoric over past operations and future threats.
Pakistan’s defence minister, Khawaja Asif, on Sunday pushed back strongly after India’s army chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, warned that Pakistan could be “erased from the map.” Asif replied on social media with a defiant message saying India “will be buried under the debris of its planes,” and reiterated Pakistan’s long-disputed claim that it shot down six Indian fighter jets during Operation Sindoor — a claim New Delhi has consistently denied.
Asif framed the Indian statements as an effort to repair a damaged reputation. “The statements of the Indian military and political leadership are a failed attempt to restore their tarnished reputation,” he wrote on X. Referring to the alleged losses in Operation Sindoor, he added, “After such a decisive defeat with a score of 0-6, if they try again, the score, God willing, will be far better than before.”
In his post, Asif described Pakistan’s soldiers as “Allah’s soldiers” and warned of a harsher response to any future aggression. “This time, India, God willing, will be buried in the debris of its own planes. Allahu Akbar,” he wrote, portraying the comments from Indian leaders as evidence of mounting domestic pressure on New Delhi.
The exchanges follow a series of sharp statements from Indian officials. General Dwivedi had urged Pakistan to stop sponsoring terrorism “if it wants to retain its place on the world map,” and India’s defence minister, Rajnath Singh, stated that Indian forces “can cross any border whenever necessary” to protect the country. Dwivedi also suggested that the restraint shown by India during Operation Sindoor would not necessarily be repeated in future confrontations, urging Indian troops to remain ready for action.
India’s Air Chief Marshal AP Singh earlier asserted that “at least a dozen” Pakistani military aircraft, including U.S.-made F-16s, were destroyed or damaged during Indian strikes in May, a claim that Pakistan has rejected.
Responding to the recent rhetoric, the Pakistan Army described remarks from Indian political and military leaders as “delusional, provocative and jingoistic,” according to a statement reported by PTI. The army warned that renewed hostilities could bring “cataclysmic devastation” and pledged that Pakistan “shall resolutely respond, without any qualms or restraint” if a fresh round of conflict is triggered.
The exchange underscores continued tensions between the two countries and the volatile rhetoric that can accompany moments of heightened military and political sensitivity.