Pakistan on Wednesday said it has credible intelligence that India intends to launch military action soon, as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours escalate following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir.
Recall that in the April 22 attack, the assailants segregated men, asked their names, and targeted Hindus before shooting them at close range in the Pahalgam area, killing at least 26 people.
Meanwhile, India has identified the three attackers, including two Pakistani nationals, as terrorists waging a violent revolt in Muslim-majority Kashmir.
However, Islamabad has denied any role, calling for a neutral investigation.
The old rivals, born out of British colonial India in 1947, have reportedly unleashed measures against each other after the attack, with India putting the critical Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and Pakistan closing its airspace to Indian airlines.
According to Pakistan, it had credible intelligence that India intends to carry out military action against it in the next 24–36 hours on the pretext of baseless and concocted allegations of involvement in the Pahalgam incident.
At the time of filing this report, India’s foreign and defence ministries have not made any comment on the allegation.
Islamabad, in a statement early on Wednesday, said it condemned terrorism in all forms and will respond assuredly and decisively to any military action from India.
On his part, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to pursue and punish the Pahalgam attackers.
India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), consisting of Modi and his interior, defence, home, and finance ministers, is scheduled to meet later in the day.
This would be the second such meeting of the CCS since the attack on April 22.
The prime minister has reportedly told his military chiefs that they have the freedom to decide the country’s response to the Pahalgam attack.
