ISLAMABAD: Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Wednesday said there was “no space for war” between two nuclear neighbours, as Pakistan marked the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq.
Addressing a press conference alongside Shifaat Ali Khan and Tariq Ghazi, the military spokesperson said Pakistan remained committed to peace, regional stability and national defence.
Referring to last year’s conflict with India, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan had successfully responded to Indian aggression after New Delhi levelled what Islamabad termed baseless allegations over the Pahalgam incident.
He said the conflict had produced “10 strategic consequences”, the foremost being the collapse of India’s narrative portraying Pakistan as a sponsor of terrorism.
“The international community now fully understands that Pakistan is not a perpetrator but a victim of Indian-sponsored terrorism,” he said.
The DG ISPR said Pakistan emerged from Marka-e-Haq as a “net security stabiliser” in the region, adding that India escalated tensions based on “lies and fabricated narratives”, while Pakistan acted with restraint and responsibility.
Criticising Indian political and military leadership, he warned against the “politicisation of military leadership and militarisation of politics”, calling it a dangerous trend.
Lt Gen Chaudhry also accused India of externalising its internal problems, including issues related to minorities and Kashmir, while attempting to blame neighbouring countries.
“Kashmir is not India’s internal matter, it is an internationally recognised dispute,” he said.
The military spokesperson further said the conflict exposed the “true face of Indian media and discredited information operations”, adding that only truth could survive in the modern information domain.
Discussing the evolving nature of warfare, he said modern conflicts now extended beyond borders into cyber, maritime, air and cognitive domains, but Pakistan’s armed forces remained fully prepared in all areas.
He stressed that there was no room for war between two nuclear-armed states.
“Anyone who thinks there is space for war between two nuclear neighbours is crazy. That is madness,” he remarked.
Lt Gen Chaudhry added that another major outcome of Marka-e-Haq was the strengthening of unity between Pakistan’s people, government and armed forces, which he described as the “Bunyan-um-Marsoos effect”.
Speaking during the briefing, Rear Admiral Shifaat Ali Khan said the Pakistan Navy successfully protected maritime routes and ports during the conflict, despite India’s attempts to deploy naval assets in the Arabian Sea.
He added that the Pakistan Navy and Air Force were fully prepared to target India’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant if required.
Meanwhile, Air Vice Marshal Tariq Ghazi claimed the Pakistan Air Force achieved an “8-0” outcome against the Indian Air Force during the engagement.
According to him, the PAF shot down four Dassault Rafale jets, one Sukhoi Su-30, one Mikoyan MiG-29, one Dassault Mirage 2000 aircraft and one advanced unmanned aerial system during the conflict.