Pakistan’s Retaliation Will Be Loud and Lethal

India’s arrogance has triggered a strategic miscalculation. Now the initiative belongs to Pakistan.

By Qamar Bashir
Press Secretary to the President (Rtd), Former Press Minister at the Embassy of Pakistan to France, Former MD, SRBC

 

In a clear and assertive press briefing, Major General Choudhary Sharif, Director General of ISPR, addressed the nation and the world with a message impossible to misinterpret. With composed confidence, he confirmed that the Pakistan Air Force had downed five Indian aircraft — a strike of surgical precision, carried out despite India’s much-touted advanced air defense systems. Independent observers and international defense analysts have now corroborated Pakistan’s claim, discrediting India’s narrative of aerial supremacy.

General Sharif made it clear: Pakistan’s surveillance, detection, and defensive systems are active and uncompromising. Every object that threatens or violates Pakistan’s airspace — whether missile, drone, or fighter jet — is being tracked, assessed, and countered. And while India chose the timing of its aggression, Pakistan will choose the moment, method, and target of its response — a response that will not only echo within India but across the globe.

Words with Weight

Dismissing Indian media propaganda, General Sharif emphasized that Pakistan had not conducted any operations in Sikh-majority regions or East Punjab, contrary to disinformation circulated by Indian media outlets. His tone was sharp: “We don’t need Indian media to announce our operations. When Pakistan strikes, the world will know — not through propaganda, but through precision and impact.”

These were not mere words. They were a calibrated warning — one that speaks of capability, confidence, and strategic depth. Pakistan has the means, the will, and the discipline to respond without recklessness.

India’s Calculated Error

India’s decision to launch missile strikes in response to the Pahalgam incident — an event not proven to involve Pakistan — was rash, politically motivated, and strategically flawed. Not only did it lack evidence, but it also failed to convince even segments of Indian civil society and media, who have since demanded an internal probe into the glaring security lapse in one of the world’s most militarized regions.

Instead of seeking clarity or de-escalation, New Delhi chose escalation — and paid the price.

So far, India has lost an estimated $1.5 billion in military assets, including three French-made Rafale jets — the pride of the Indian Air Force. These aircraft were neutralized by Pakistan’s integrated air defense and electronic warfare systems, which jammed communications and even reportedly disabled regional mobile networks to isolate the pilots mid-air.

Pakistan’s loss? Zero.

Holding the Initiative

General Sharif’s message was firm: Pakistan’s response will be strategic, proportionate, and devastating — not reactionary. The initiative now belongs to Pakistan, and India knows it. A shift has occurred — from Indian bravado to Indian uncertainty.

The same Indian public that once cheered missile launches now holds its breath, wondering where and how Pakistan will respond. Inside Indian command circles, confidence has turned into concern. And it is well-founded.

Pakistan has shattered India’s illusion of invincibility — proving it can take down the most advanced jets, jam communications, and paralyze strategic infrastructure — without crossing a border, and without triggering full-scale war.

The Geopolitical Fallout

India’s image as a “regional power” or “counterweight to China” has taken a blow. Its Rafale deterrent now appears exposed, and its media narrative lies in ruins. More critically, its military recklessness has dented its global credibility.

India’s attempt to dominate the regional discourse through brute force has backfired. And now, Pakistan holds the narrative, the initiative, and the advantage — diplomatically and militarily.

What Comes Next?

Pakistan must now respond with precision — militarily, diplomatically, and psychologically. It has the sovereign right to respond, and it must do so in a manner that establishes clear deterrence for the future.

But once the score is settled, India must recalibrate. It must:

• Accept responsibility for the unprovoked aggression;

• Launch an independent and internationally supervised inquiry into the Pahalgam incident;

• Apologize and offer reparations for civilian casualties and damage caused by its missile strikes.

Failure to do so will only deepen its loss of credibility — both in the region and beyond.

The World Must Not Remain Silent

The United Nations, OIC, and all peace-seeking nations must not merely issue post-conflict statements. They must hold India accountable for its aggression and recognize Pakistan’s right to self-defense. International mechanisms must be established to prevent such future military adventurism.

Final Message

Pakistan’s posture is not of provocation, but of preparation. As General Sharif underscored: “Don’t mistake composure for weakness. Don’t confuse diplomacy with docility.”

To India, the message is loud and lethal:
Arrogance may fill your chest for a moment, but reality strikes like a missile.
And reality has now struck.
Pakistan has shown restraint. Now, it will show results.