Pakistan plotting 'misadventure' amid Iran war? Rajnath Singh's tough message

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday sent a stern warning to Pakistan against attempting any "misadventure" under the shadow of the war in Iran. The warning comes days before the first anniversary of the horrific 2025 Pahalgam attack and India's Operation Sindoor. Speaking at the Sainik Samman Sammelan in poll-bound Kerala, Rajnath said India's response would be "decisive" if Pakistan tried to foment trouble by taking advantage of the turmoil in the Middle East.

"Our neighbour, given the current situation, could attempt some kind of misadventure. If that happens, India's response will be unprecedented and decisive," the defence minister said, underscoring that Operation Sindoor was not over yet.

Rajnath reminded Pakistan how the Indian forces brought it to its knees in just 22 minutes during Operation Sindoor. The operation was launched days after Lashkar terrorists killed 25 tourists in Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22.

During the three-day operation, India destroyed nine terror camps deep inside Pakistan and struck key military bases, some of which are still under repair. The hostilities ended after Pakistan sought a ceasefire on May 10.

"Whether it was the surgical strikes after the Uri attack, the air strikes following Pulwama, or now Operation Sindoor... we have delivered a strong blow to terrorism," Rajnath further said.

WHY RAJNATH SINGH WARNED PAKISTAN?

However, the defence minister didn't clarify what sort of "misadventure" Pakistan might attempt or if there was any intel.

The minister's remarks come days after reports in Pakistani media that India might be preparing for a "false flag" operation against Islamabad using Pakistani citizens captured by Delhi. However, there was no evidence.

A report in the Pakistani daily The Dawn claimed such an operation was being planned to divert attention away from Pakistan's mediation efforts in the US-Iran war.

While Pakistan has positioned itself as a potential mediator in the conflict, Iran has rejected such claims, leaving Islamabad red-faced. "Pakistan's forums are their own... We didn't participate," Iran said on mediation claims by Islamabad.

Behind Rajnath's warning is another factor that cannot be overlooked - the way Pakistan thrust a war on Afghanistan just as US and Israel struck Iran on February 28. There was no trigger for Pakistan to suddenly attack Afghanistan. A fragile ceasefire was in place since November. Yet, Pakistan declared an "open war" with Afghanistan.

The move has been viewed by experts as Pakistan army chief Asim Munir's plan to avoid being dragged into the Iran war, courtesy its bilateral defence pact with Saudi Arabia. The war in Iran has engulfed the whole Middle East after Tehran retaliated by firing a barrage of drones and missiles at military assets and energy facilities in the Gulf.

Amid the escalating conflict, which is now in its second month, Saudi Arabia has signalled that it might join the war. Last year, Saudi Arabia signed a Nato-style defence pact with Pakistan, which says an attack against one country will be considered an attack against both.

Thus, if Saudi joins the Iran war, Pakistan is likely to be dragged in it too. And Munir and Prime MInister Shehbaz Sharif are reluctant on getting dragged into an endless war, which will further strain its economy. Moreover, Pakistan cannot be seen allying with Israel in attacking Iran, a Shia-majority country.

Pakistan has around 20% Shia population and such a move will only trigger sectarian tensions inside the country.

Thus, it is highly possible that Rajnath might be alluding to these manoeuvres by Pakistan when he cautioned the country of any "misadventures" in India.