Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has exacerbated regional tensions by claiming possession of “credible intelligence” indicating India plans a military strike within 24-36 hours.
This warning follows last week’s deadly attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, where gunmen killed 26 tourists—the worst civilian massacre in the disputed region in two decades. Tarar accused India of preparing to use the incident as a “false pretext” for military action, vowing Pakistan would respond “assuredly and decisively” to any cross-border operation.
Kashmir Crisis Worsens as Border Skirmishes Intensify
The nuclear-armed neighbors have exchanged intermittent small-arms fire across the Line of Control (LoC) since the Pahalgam shootings, with India conducting mass detentions of over 1,500 individuals in Kashmir. Security forces have demolished homes of 10 alleged militants, including one linked to the tourist attack suspects.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to pursue the perpetrators “till the ends of the earth,” amplifying nationalist sentiment ahead of national elections.
While Indian police identified three attackers—two Pakistani nationals and one Kashmiri local—the fourth remains unknown.
The little-known Resistance Front, initially blamed for the assault, denied involvement through a statement, though analysts note its alleged ties to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. Survivors recount gunmen specifically targeting Hindu men during the rampage near the Himalayan tourist hub, fueling religious tensions in the Muslim-majority region.
Why It Matters
The crisis revives dangerous patterns from 2016 and 2019, when previous Kashmir attacks triggered Indian airstrikes on Pakistani territory. Both nations are currently claiming sovereignty over Kashmir since their 1947 partition, having fought two wars over the territory.
With India’s massive security crackdown continuing—including controversial home demolitions—and Pakistan mobilizing diplomatic channels, the international community is looking for signs of de-escalation.
Meanwhile, the BBC’s request for comment from India’s foreign ministry remains unanswered at the time of filing this report, even as military observers note the unusual troop movements along the border.
