Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, has announced that the country has "credible intelligence" indicating that India is poised to launch a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours. This announcement follows accusations from India that Pakistan is harboring militants behind a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists last week. Islamabad has firmly rejected these allegations.
Tarar claims that India seeks to use this tragic incident as a “false pretext” for its military actions, warning that any aggression from India would be met with a “decisive” response. The BBC has reached out to India’s foreign ministry for comments regarding these assertions.
The grim attack near Pahalgam marks the deadliest assault on civilians in two decades within the disputed Kashmir region, which both India and Pakistan claim ownership over, having fought two wars over it. Recently, tensions have escalated further, with troops from both countries exchanging small-arms fire along the border.
In the wake of the attack, Indian authorities have intensified operations in Kashmir, detaining over 1,500 individuals for questioning and demolishing the houses of alleged militants. Notably, a group known as the Resistance Front initially claimed responsibility for the shootings but later denied their involvement. The attackers reportedly included individuals from both Pakistan and local residents.
The incident has ignited outrage in India, leading Prime Minister Narendra Modi to vow that the country would go to extreme lengths to bring the perpetrators to justice, stating that those behind the crime "will be punished beyond their imagination."
