Pakistan Alerts of Imminent Indian Military Action Amid Escalating Tensions

Following accusations from India regarding militant support from Pakistan after a deadly attack in Kashmir, Pakistan's information minister warned of potential military action by India, raising alarm over escalating tensions between the two nations.

Pakistan's information minister, Attaullah Tarar, has publicly stated that the country possesses "credible intelligence" indicating that India is planning a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours. This declaration comes on the heels of India's allegations that Pakistan is backing militants responsible for a recent attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists. Islamabad stands firm in its rejection of these claims.

According to Tarar, India is poised to utilize the recent attack as a "false pretext" for military action. He stressed that any such aggressive movement from India would be met with a decisive response from his government. The BBC has reached out to India's foreign ministry for their perspective on the situation.

The tragic incident near the tourist town of Pahalgam represents the deadliest attack on civilians in that territory in the last 20 years. Both India and Pakistan have laid claim to the region, prompting two wars over the contested area. Recently, the situation has intensified, with troops from both nations exchanging small-arms fire across the border.

Rumors have circulated regarding India's possible military response, akin to previous actions taken following militant attacks in 2019 and 2016. In the aftermath of the attack last week, Indian authorities conducted extensive searches in Kashmir, detaining over 1,500 individuals for questioning, while demolishing the homes of at least ten alleged militants.

The Kashmir region, claimed entirely by both countries but administered partly, has been plagued by an armed insurgency against Indian rule since 1989, with militants frequently targeting security forces and innocent civilians. Although India has yet to identify any group connected to the Pahalgam attack, early reports attributed responsibility to a relatively obscure group known as the Resistance Front. However, this group has issued statements denying involvement.

The Indian police have named three of the four suspected attackers identified, revealing that two are Pakistani nationals, while the third hails from Indian-administered Kashmir. The identity of the fourth individual remains unknown. Witness accounts indicate that the gunmen targeted Hindu men during the attack, igniting widespread outrage across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed that India will pursue the attackers "till the ends of the earth" and ensure that the instigators receive severe punishment.