In a startling escalation of tensions, Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif has declared that the country is now in a state of war. Following a devastating suicide bombing near the judicial complex in the capital city of Islamabad. The attack, which claimed at least 12 lives, has been described by Pakistani officials as a wake-up call that demands a drastic shift in strategy toward external and internal threats.
According to the minister’s statement, talks with the neighbouring Afghan-based authorities that might previously have offered some hope of de-escalation are now being re-evaluated. Islamabad’s leadership suggests that the time for patience or quiet diplomacy may be over, given what they portray as mounting cross-border terrorism, vulnerabilities near the Pakistani capital, and a sense that internal security has been compromised.
The rhetoric is unmistakably firm. Pakistan warns that it will employ all available means to defend its territory and interests. The declaration comes against a backdrop of heightened animosity, where Pakistan has accused neighbouring states of using terror groups as proxies, interfering with its water resources, or undermining its national sovereignty. For instance, earlier this year the Pakistani National Security Committee stated that any diversion of water under the Indus Waters Treaty would be treated as an act of war.
This posture reflects a convergence of two dynamics. First, Islamabad appears frustrated with what it views as persistent external provocations missile strikes, cross-border operations, or diplomatic moves that it regards as breaches of its sovereignty. Second, there is growing domestic pressure on the civilian and military leadership to demonstrate decisive action in the face of repeated attacks that have killed civilians and challenged state authority.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior military figures have affirmed that the Pakistani armed forces are ready and that the country will no longer tolerate what it calls unpunished aggression. The narrative being projected is one of unity state, military and population standing together with a message that the game has changed.
Nonetheless, the declaration of a “state of war” presents substantial risks. Pakistan is a nuclear-armed nation, sharing a volatile border with a similarly capable neighbour. While the language employed by Islamabad may be aimed more at deterrence and signalling than full-scale warfare, the escalation mindset increases the chance of miscalculation or unintended conflict. Analysts will be closely watching whether this verbal posture translates into aggressive military operations, heightened border skirmishes, or expanded cross-border strikes.
The international community, for its part, is likely to urge restraint. A war between Pakistan and its neighbour would not only bring tragic humanitarian consequences but also broader regional instability, given the strategic stakes.