Pakistan has claimed it has “credible intelligence” suggesting India is preparing to launch a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours, significantly escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused India of using last week’s deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir—which killed 26 Hindu tourists—as a “false flag” pretext for military aggression. He warned that any offensive action would be “responded to assuredly and decisively.”
India has yet to officially respond to the allegations. However, Indian authorities have firmly blamed “Pakistan-backed militants” for the massacre near the popular hill town of Pahalgam—one of the deadliest civilian attacks in the disputed region in decades.
The identity of the assailants remains murky. While early reports linked the attack to a lesser-known group, The Resistance Front—believed to have ties to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba—the group has since denied involvement. Indian police have named three suspects, including two alleged Pakistani nationals and one local from Indian-administered Kashmir. The identity of a fourth gunman remains unknown.
Security forces in the region have ramped up operations, detaining more than 1,500 people for questioning in sweeping raids. Authorities have also demolished the homes of at least 10 alleged militants—one reportedly connected to a named suspect.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed justice, promising to track down the perpetrators “to the ends of the earth” and stating they “will be punished beyond their imagination.”
Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in full but administer it in parts. Since the territory’s division in 1947, it has remained a focal point of hostility, sparking multiple wars and frequent cross-border skirmishes.
Memories of previous Indian airstrikes in Pakistani territory—such as the 2019 Balakot strike following a suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian soldiers—are fuelling speculation that another response is imminent.
Military posturing has intensified along the Line of Control (LoC), with reports of sporadic gunfire exchanged between Indian and Pakistani troops in recent days.
The international community is watching with concern as the situation threatens to spiral. Both countries possess nuclear arsenals, and previous flare-ups over Kashmir have pushed the region dangerously close to open conflict.
With regional stability at stake, diplomats are urging restraint and a commitment to dialogue. But as emotions flare on both sides, the potential for miscalculation remains alarmingly high.
