Pakistan Army Warns India of “Cataclysmic Devastation” in Strongly Worded ISPR Statement

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan’s military, issued a sharply worded statement on 4 October, warning that recent “delusional, provocative and jingoistic statements” from senior Indian security officials risk fabricating pretexts for aggression and could “lead to serious consequences for peace and stability in South Asia.” The ISPR accused New Delhi of repeatedly portraying itself as a victim while, in its view, fomenting violence and regional instability.

The ISPR recalled the intense confrontations earlier this year that brought the two nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of a wider war, saying India seemed to have “forgotten the wreckage of its fighter jets and the wrath of Pakistan’s long-range vectors.” The military warning added that if fresh hostilities erupt, Pakistan “shall not hold back” and would respond “swift[ly], decisive[ly] and destructive[ly].” The statement also rejected rhetoric about “erasing Pakistan from the map,” saying any such scenario “will be mutual.”

Pakistan’s media and analysts highlighted the statement as part of a broader escalation in rhetoric following recent comments from top Indian leaders and military chiefs expressing stern warnings to Islamabad. The ISPR framed its message as a caution against political and military posturing that could spiral into real conflict, stressing the potential for wide-ranging consequences across the region.

The exchanges come against a backdrop of sharply elevated tensions since major clashes in spring 2025, during which both sides made conflicting claims about aerial and drone strikes, aircraft losses, and attacks on military installations. International actors have repeatedly urged restraint and de-escalation to prevent confrontation between two nuclear-armed states.

Analysts say the ISPR communiqué performs several roles: signalling resolve to domestic and allied audiences, deterring further provocative rhetoric, and placing responsibility for de-escalation on New Delhi. At the same time, the stark language — including threats to “take the fight to every nook and corner of the enemy’s territory” and to “shatter the myth of geographic immunity” — risks hardening public perceptions and narrowing diplomatic space for calm, behind-the-scenes crisis management.

Diplomatic channels in the region and beyond will now be watching whether rhetoric gives way to renewed dialogue or instead feeds a cycle of escalation. International mediators and Western capitals have consistently urged both countries to avoid actions or statements that could trigger military reprisals, stressing that miscalculation between nuclear-armed neighbours would carry unacceptable humanitarian and strategic costs.

Reporting note: This article is based on the ISPR statement released 4 October and subsequent regional reporting. Key sources include the ISPR release and regional press coverage of recent India–Pakistan military exchanges.