Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif increased the tension on April 4, 2026. He warned that if India carried out any “false-flag operation” or any “adventure” in future, Islamabad would attack Kolkata. Speaking to reporters in Sialkot, Asif said, “If God willing, we will take it to Kolkata.” Along with this, he repeated the claims made without any evidence about the incidents being carried out by India. These comments came amid the ongoing war of words between India and Pakistan and were largely described as inflammatory.
In response, All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary Abhishek Banerjee strongly criticized the central government during an election rally in West Bengal. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh of remaining silent on the threat posed to the people of Kolkata and Bengal. Banerjee claimed that BJP leaders do not have the courage to condemn Pakistan and are busy in election campaigning.
Banerjee further said that she had noted Asif’s name and warned: Once Mamata Banerjee and INDIA form a coalition government, “we will enter their houses and kill them.” He challenged the Center to allow central forces, BSF and Army to take back Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), and questioned whether Modi, Shah or Singh have the “courage” to do so.
These comments come at a time when assembly elections are about to be held in West Bengal, which are expected to be closely contested. Voting for the 294-seat assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, 2026, and the results will be declared on May 4. In 2021, TMC had won a landslide victory with 213 seats, while BJP improved its performance with 77 seats, its best-ever performance in the state.
This rhetoric has further intensified the political discussion in Bengal, making the issue of national security a major topic of election discussion between TMC and BJP. Asif’s threat was ridiculed in some parts of India as a logistical overreach, while Banerjee’s harsh rhetoric has been met with both support and criticism.
