Pakistan Army warns India: imaginary ‘new normal’ to meet swift retribution

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Army on Wednesday warned that any Indian aggression or attempt to impose an “imaginary new normal” in the region would be met with a “swift and decisive retributive response.”

The warning came during the 272nd Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, presided over by Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, according to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The ISPR said the forum discussed Pakistan’s security situation, ongoing counterterrorism operations, and the emerging regional threat environment.

The commanders reaffirmed the army’s resolve to defend the country against “inimical designs” across all domains and declared that any “perceived notion of India’s relative safety accruing from geography will be shattered.”

The conference began with prayers for the martyrs of recent terrorist attacks that Pakistan alleges were orchestrated by Indian-backed groups.

The army chief praised the “spirit, resolve, and determination” of the armed forces in combating what he termed “foreign-sponsored terror proxies” and in carrying out flood relief operations alongside civil authorities and law enforcement agencies.

 The forum reviewed the ongoing counterterrorism campaign and vowed to continue comprehensive operations to dismantle networks of Indian-sponsored militant outfits, including “Fitna al-Khawarij” and “Fitna al-Hindustan.”

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad refers to as Fitna al-Khawarij, a term from Islamic history describing a violent rebel faction, has been blamed for hundreds of attacks across Pakistan’s northwest and border areas.

Expressing “grave concern” over recent “irresponsible and provocative statements” from Indian political and military leaders, the commanders said such rhetoric reflected a pattern of “whipping up war hysteria for political gain.”

The forum cautioned that India’s “unwarranted warmongering” could escalate tensions and jeopardize regional peace and stability.

The statement also highlighted Pakistan’s recent diplomatic outreach, reaffirming its commitment to global and regional peace. The forum welcomed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, describing it as a step toward stronger strategic ties, joint defense cooperation, and a shared vision for peace and security in the Middle East and South Asia.

Reiterating Pakistan’s support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination under UN Security Council resolutions, the forum also expressed solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

It called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid, reiterating support for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.

In his closing remarks, the field marshal directed commanders to maintain the highest standards of operational readiness, discipline, fitness, and innovation, and expressed full confidence in the army’s capability to counter threats “across the entire spectrum, from conventional and sub-conventional to hybrid and asymmetric warfare.”