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New Delhi — A week after a tragic terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, including 25 tourists, tensions are escalating between India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers. Late on Tuesday, the Pakistani government asserted it had “credible intelligence” suggesting that India was gearing up for military action within a matter of hours, purportedly in retaliation for the April 22 attack, which Indian authorities attribute to militants backed by Pakistan.
“Pakistan has credible intelligence that India intends to carry out military operations against Pakistan in the next 24-36 hours based on fabricated and unfounded claims regarding the Pahalgam incident,” stated Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan’s Information Minister, during a late-night news conference.
These claims emerged shortly after Indian media disseminated reports indicating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had authorized the nation’s armed forces to exercise “complete operational freedom” in determining the approach, targets, and timing for a response to the recent terror assault.
On the evening prior, Modi convened a closed-door meeting with key government officials and military leaders to strategize the response to the attack, which involved gunmen attacking a popular tourist site in the picturesque Pahalgam area of Kashmir.
India swiftly accused Pakistan of orchestrating the attack; Islamabad has vehemently denied any involvement while proposing to conduct an investigation into the matter.
The attack on April 22 was claimed by a lesser-known group identifying itself as the Kashmir Resistance, although there has been no means to independently verify the authenticity of this claim made via social media.
In the aftermath of the assault, India implemented various non-military measures against Pakistan, including the termination of a significant water-sharing agreement, a downgrade in diplomatic relations, and an order for Pakistani nationals to exit the country. Pakistan reciprocated with similar actions shortly thereafter.
Kashmir remains a contested region, claimed entirely by both nations, although they administer separate portions that have been controlled for decades. The two countries have engaged in three wars over this territory, currently divided by the Line of Control (LoC).
In recent days, military exchanges across the LoC have intensified, with both Indian and Pakistani forces reportedly engaging in gunfire.
This Himalayan region has faced ongoing militant violence since an armed insurgency against Indian rule began in 1989, resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of lives over more than thirty years.
On Tuesday, the United Nations expressed grave concerns about the potential “catastrophic” ramifications of war between these two nuclear-armed nations. “The region and the world cannot afford a confrontation between India and Pakistan, which would be catastrophic for both countries and the global community,” stated Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres.
Dujarric noted that Guterres had distinct discussions with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and India’s foreign minister. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also appealed to both nations “not to escalate the situation,” with his spokesperson announcing plans for Rubio to speak with the foreign ministers of both countries soon.
As Modi resumed discussions with his cabinet on Wednesday, there was no immediate official response from the Indian government regarding Pakistan’s assertions of imminent military actions.
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