Pakistan's Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, has claimed that the nation possesses "credible intelligence" indicating that India is planning a military strike within 24 to 36 hours. This assertion follows India's accusations that Pakistan backed militants responsible for a tragic attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which took the lives of 26 tourists last week—a grim milestone, marking the deadliest assault on civilians in the region over the past two decades.
Tarar dismissed India's allegations as unfounded, alleging that it intends to use the Pahalgam attack as a "false pretext" for military action. He reinforced that any aggressive moves by India would be met with a "decisive" response from Pakistan.
Cross-border tensions have been escalating, with intermittent small-arms fire exchanged between troops on both sides in recent days. Speculation has arisen regarding India's potential military response, reminiscent of previous retaliatory strikes following comparable militant attacks in 2016 and 2019. Amidst these rising tensions, authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir have detained over 1,500 individuals for questioning, with more arrests occurring since the attack. They have also demolished at least ten homes allegedly associated with militants.
Kashmir remains a contentious and volatile region, with both India and Pakistan claiming the territory since their partition in 1947. An armed insurgency against Indian control has persisted in Indian-administered Kashmir since 1989, with various militant groups targeting Indian security forces and civilians alike.
While Indian authorities have named some perpetrators involved in the Pahalgam attack, significant questions linger regarding the exact identity and affiliations of those responsible. A previously obscure group, the Resistance Front, initially claimed to have executed the attack before retracting its statement. Reports suggest connections to the notorious Pakistan-based militant organization, Lashkar-e-Taiba.
In the face of national outrage, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed that the government will relentlessly pursue those responsible for the attack, vowing that they will be held accountable.
