Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently sparked controversy by warning that if India ever takes aggressive action in the future, Kolkata could become a target. His statement has drawn sharp criticism from India, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh responding firmly. Singh emphasized that such provocative remarks should be avoided and warned Islamabad that setting its sights on Bengal could have grave consequences, implying that only God knows how many pieces Pakistan could be divided into.
Rajnath Singh referred to historical events to underline his point. He reminded that 55 years ago, Pakistan had already experienced the consequences of its own divisions. “Khawaja Asif should have refrained from making such inflammatory statements. When Pakistan split into two in 1971, they faced the outcomes firsthand. If they now focus on Bengal, only God knows how many pieces Pakistan could break into,” Singh said, highlighting the dangers of escalatory rhetoric.
The remarks of Khawaja Asif also drew criticism from West Bengal’s political leadership. Trinamool Congress (TMC) Chief Mamata Banerjee and MP Abhishek Banerjee accused the central government of failing to publicly condemn the threats. Abhishek Banerjee alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah lacked the courage to respond and urged Indian forces, including the BSF and Army, to prepare to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Mamata Banerjee questioned why Modi had remained silent and why India had not issued a strong response to the threats.
Rajnath Singh, in a separate interview, stressed that such provocative statements could escalate tensions unnecessarily. He recalled the 1971 war, when East Pakistan broke away to form Bangladesh, supported by the Indian Army. Singh used this historical context to caution Islamabad, asserting that inflammatory statements can have severe consequences and should be avoided to maintain regional stability.
Concluding his warning, Rajnath Singh stated that if Pakistan continues to target Bengal with aggressive rhetoric, the consequences for the country could be severe. He underscored that only God knows the potential outcome, reinforcing India’s stance that provocations against its territory and people would not be tolerated. His strong response highlights India’s zero-tolerance policy toward threats and serves as a reminder of the historical lessons from past conflicts.