As hostilities between Pakistan and India ratchet up, the declaration of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday set alarm bells ringing. Addressing the National Assembly of Pakistan, Khawaja Asif proclaimed that Madrassa students will be the country’s “second line of defence” in time of war—a brazen declaration many have construed as a call of desperation.
“As far as Madrassas or Madrassa students are concerned, there’s no doubt they are our second line of defence, the youngsters who are studying there. When the time comes, they will be used as needed 100 per cent,” Khawaja Asif said in Parliament.
This is so shocking that we had to go to the recordings of the Pakistan National Assembly – to confirm that this is not AI.
The Pakistan Defence Minister #KhawajaAsif himself is saying that madrasa students will be used as a ‘second line of defence’ amid ongoing tensions with… pic.twitter.com/UhfqcyZU6t— The DeshBhakt 🇮🇳 (@TheDeshBhakt) May 9, 2025
His statement was made a day after India conducted precision drone attacks on several locations within Pakistan in reprisal against the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent aerial attack by Pakistan. The Indian Armed Forces’ Operation Sindoor demolished various terror training camps and Pakistan’s military capabilities, which saw Islamabad deliver a visibly shaken reaction.
India’s Retaliation Provokes Deflection in Parliament
In a bid to clarify the Pakistani military’s failure to respond to Indian drone attacks, Asif absurdly argued that the drones had not been intercepted to avoid location leaks.
“Yesterday, the drone attack by India was done to detect our locations. I cannot explain technical things, but we did not intercept their drones, so that our locations are not located or leaked,” he continued.
These comments have been criticised and perplexing, especially in light of the severity of India’s successful attacks and the ensuing destruction of Pakistan’s air defence systems. India neutralised major radar systems and shot down five Pakistani aircraft, two JF-17s and one F-16, in strategic locations such as Lahore, Sialkot, Karachi, and Islamabad.
India Retains Tactical Advantage Despite Continuing Provocations
In retaliation for the Indian offensive, Pakistan started a chain of retaliatory drone and missile strikes against strategic Indian targets like the Jammu air base, military installations, and Jammu University. But the Indian Army was able to intercept these attacks, with the BSF also foiling a major infiltration bid in Samba.
With diplomatic tensions heating up, Asif’s comments accentuate Pakistan’s increasing instability and perilous dependency on radicalised narratives. Mobilising religious students in defensive terms is a cause for concern when de-escalation should be the aim.
