Pakistan warns of 'forceful response' after Rajnath Singh threatens a bigger strike

Pakistan on Friday condemned Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's warning of a bigger military strike, calling it provocative and saying any aggression would meet a "forceful response".

Singh said on Thursday, as reported by the Indian news agency ANI, that fresh terrorist activity from across the border would invite a strike "even bigger than the last time", Dawn reported.

What the Foreign Office said

Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan responded at the weekly briefing in Islamabad on 16 October. According to Dawn, Geo News and Business Recorder, he said:

• the remarks reflect a "hegemonistic mindset" and show the danger India's posture poses to regional stability;
• India should remember the consequences of the May 2025 conflict, when Pakistan gave a "befitting response", and learn from it;
• Pakistan is fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its restraint should not be mistaken for weakness;
• India should drop belligerent rhetoric and work for lasting peace in the region.

Ladakh and Kashmir

Khan also responded to India standardising the names of 28 geographical features in Ladakh, a step China has called illegal. He said India's 5 August 2019 move to revoke the special status of Indian-administered Kashmir was "illegal and void", and that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory whose status must be settled under UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of Kashmiris.

Saudi Arabia and the Houthis

The briefing came hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told Saudi Arabia's new ambassador that Pakistan stands with the kingdom. The Foreign Office condemned the latest Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and cited Pakistan's commitments under its joint defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, Business Recorder reported.

Attestation goes online

For overseas Pakistanis and students, the useful part of the briefing was on documents. After the FIA broke up a network said to be making fake apostille stickers, Khan said the ministry is digitising attestation and apostille services: e-attestation is already live on its portal, e-apostille is being set up, and eligible applicants may no longer need to appear in person. An inquiry into the irregularities is under way and its findings will be made public, he said.

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