Pakistan’s military has escalated its rhetoric against India, warning of a broader and more aggressive response if New Delhi carries out another cross-border strike. In a recent interview with The Economist, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), issued a stark warning: “If there’s another Operation Sindoor-like strike, we will strike deeper within India, starting from the east.” He further added that “India needs to understand they can be hit everywhere,” a comment that signals a widening of Pakistan’s retaliatory doctrine.
The warning comes in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, the Indian military’s preemptive campaign launched on May 7, 2025. The operation targeted what India called terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. While Indian authorities maintained that their strikes avoided civilian areas, Pakistan accused India of bombing mosques and causing civilian casualties, sparking a rapid military escalation between the two nuclear-armed states.
The four-day conflict, which began after a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, saw India employ advanced cruise missiles such as the BrahMos and SCALP-EG, while Pakistan responded with mortar fire, drone attacks, and short-range ballistic missiles. It marked the first direct drone-on-drone combat in South Asia and drew international concern. The crisis ended with a ceasefire on May 10, brokered by the United States.
In his recent remarks, Lt Gen Chaudhry hinted at a potential shift in strategy. By referencing Pakistan’s capacity to strike from the east, analysts believe the military may be trying to introduce uncertainty into India’s strategic calculations, possibly alluding to asymmetric tactics or expanded operational capabilities in regions India does not typically consider vulnerable.
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Indian defense experts downplayed the practicality of such a move, pointing out that Pakistan lacks a substantial eastern military presence and that India’s air defense systems in the east are robust. Still, the psychological impact of such rhetoric—combined with Pakistan’s demonstrated missile capabilities—has raised alarms about the risks of future escalation spiraling out of control.
The comments reflect an evolution in Pakistan’s posture, not just toward parity in conflict but toward broader strategic deterrence. As tensions simmer, both sides are under growing pressure from international observers to maintain open lines of communication and prevent another dangerous miscalculation.