By: Ch Haroon Rashid
In a powerful rebuttal to recent hostile statements by senior Indian military officials, Director General ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has issued a clear and uncompromising warning. His remarks underscore a strategic evolution in Pakistan’s defense communication — one that combines deterrence with clarity and signals a new doctrinal posture: swift, decisive, and reciprocal response.
This declaration comes amid rising regional tensions, as Indian leaders continue issuing provocative remarks aimed at Pakistan. The ISPR’s latest statement sets a firm red line — Pakistan will not tolerate threats, fabrications, or any attempt to undermine its sovereignty.
Background: Rising Tensions and Provocative Remarks
Recent weeks have witnessed an escalation in Indian rhetoric. Senior Indian military officials made bellicose claims about “erasing Pakistan from the map” and pursuing “unrestricted operations.”
Pakistan’s military media wing responded sharply, calling these remarks “delusional, provocative, and jingoistic.”
The ISPR accused India of trying to manufacture pretexts for aggression, warning that such reckless statements could ignite uncontrollable escalation across South Asia.
This exchange comes on the heels of earlier confrontations, including air and border incidents, that have periodically raised fears of renewed conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Correct Designation and Authority
Before analyzing the substance, it’s vital to clarify the record: the correct name and title are
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan Army.
This precision matters — both for credibility and to affirm that the statement carries official institutional weight, not personal opinion.
Key Messages in the DG ISPR’s Reply
- The “New Normal of Response”
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry declared that Pakistan has defined a “new normal” in its approach to threats — one based on instant, proportionate, and decisive retaliation.
The ISPR warned that assumptions of geographic immunity for India are now obsolete.
2. Mutual Erasure Warning
Referring directly to Indian talk of “erasing Pakistan,” the DG cautioned that any such move would lead to “mutual erasure” — a powerful deterrent phrase reflecting Pakistan’s readiness to impose unacceptable costs on any aggressor.
3. Capability and Resolve
The statement emphasized that Pakistan’s strategic capability, operational readiness, and national resolve remain fully synchronized.
ISPR reaffirmed that Pakistan can project force “into every nook and corner of the adversary’s territory” if compelled.
4. Rejecting Fabricated Pretexts
The DG ISPR dismissed India’s rhetoric as an effort to fabricate justifications for hostility. He warned that such “dangerous delusions” risk catastrophic miscalculation, destabilizing the region and drawing in external powers.
5. Call for Restraint and Stability
Despite the sharp tone, the statement balanced deterrence with diplomacy, urging restraint in official rhetoric. Pakistan, he said, remains committed to regional peace, provided sovereignty and mutual respect are upheld.
Refined Statement (Consolidated Text)
“We have noted with grave concern the delusional, provocative, and jingoistic statements emanating from the highest echelons of the Indian security establishment. Such irresponsible rhetoric signals renewed attempts to fabricate pretexts for aggression — a path that risks grave consequences for peace and stability in South Asia.
Let it be unequivocally clear: Pakistan has now established a new normal of response. We are no longer bound by outdated notions of geographic immunity. Any move to erase Pakistan from the map will be met with mutual erasure.
The Pakistan Armed Forces possess both the capability and the resolve to defend every inch of our territory and to respond decisively to any act of aggression. Should provoked, our response will be swift, precise, and overwhelming.
Nevertheless, we urge restraint in official rhetoric. Miscalculations could spiral beyond tactical control, dragging the region into instability. There remains space for peace — but only through respect for sovereignty and responsibility in conduct.”
Strategic and Analytical Perspective
Doctrinal Shift: From Restraint to Assertive Deterrence
The DG ISPR’s statement signals a deliberate transition from passive deterrence to active strategic messaging. Pakistan is no longer content with reactive diplomacy — it’s asserting that any provocation will be met on equal or greater terms.
Dual Audience Strategy
The language was calibrated to resonate on two fronts:
- External: To warn adversaries and dissuade escalation.
- Internal: To reassure Pakistan’s populace of the military’s resolve and capability in defending national honor.
Narrative Control and Information Warfare
By framing India as the “epicentre of instability,” ISPR seeks to reorient global narratives that often cast Pakistan in a defensive light — repositioning Islamabad as the stabilizing force demanding restraint.
Conclusion (Analytical & Impactful)
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry’s response marks a decisive shift from defensive restraint to strategic assertiveness. By declaring a “new normal of response,” Pakistan has drawn a clear red line — deterrence through credibility, not rhetoric. His message blends deterrent clarity with diplomatic restraint, signaling that Pakistan neither seeks war nor tolerates provocation. In essence, this was not just a rebuttal to Indian bluster; it was a strategic communiqué — calm in tone, firm in intent, and unmistakable in consequence.
