Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday fended off his Pakistani counterpart’s threat to target Kolkata in West Bengal with a stark warning of what happened 55 years ago, during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war that led to the creation of Bangladesh.
“Pakistan’s defense minister should not have made such a provocative statement. They suffered the consequences 55 years ago when Pakistan was divided into two parts. If he tries to set his sights on Bengal, God only knows how many parts Pakistan will be divided into this time,” Rajnath Singh told news channel ANI.
Rajnath Singh made the comments during a rally in Bengal’s Barrackpore, where the vote was held, where he was asked about Asif’s remarks.
Speaking to the media in Sialkot on April 4, Khawaja Asif said, “If India tries to carry out any false flag operation this time, then God willing we will at least reach Calcutta with certainty (Kalkatte tak to jaake awanga),” he said.
He further said, “If India plans any false flag operation through its own men or through the Pakistani people in holding them back by sticking bodies somewhere and claiming that it was terrorists who did it and so on, Pakistan will take it to Calcutta.”
In response, Rajnath Singh issued a scathing remark – urging Pakistan’s defense minister to refrain from making provocative statements – and reminding him of the consequences Pakistan faced in the 1971 war.
What happened in the 1971 war?
The 1971 war was a major conflict between India and Pakistan that split the neighboring country of India in two and led to the creation of Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif’s comments came days after Rajnath Singh warned India’s “neighbours” against carrying out any “mishaps”.
Previous remarks by Rajnath Singh
Addressing the Sainik Samman Sammelan in Kerala on 2 April, Singh warned that “the evolving geopolitical situation could tempt a neighbor to seize the moment”.
He asserted that India is fully prepared to face such a move. Without specifically naming Pakistan, he said, “Our neighbor may try mischief under the current circumstances. If that happens, India’s response will be firm and decisive.”
Rajnath Singh also strongly recalled Operation Sindoor, the Indian military campaign launched in May 2025 in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. He said Operation Sindoor was “not over yet” – signaling that further action remains a possibility if cross-border tensions continue.
