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Recent statements from Pakistan’s information minister indicate that the nation possesses “credible intelligence” suggesting India may be poised to initiate a military operation within the next 24 to 36 hours.
Attaullah Tarar’s remarks follow accusations from India that Pakistan is providing support to militants behind an assault in Indian-administered Kashmir that resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists last week. Islamabad has categorically dismissed these claims.
Tarar asserted that India is seeking to exploit this incident as a “false pretext” for military action, vowing that “any such military adventurism by India would be responded to assuredly and decisively.”
The BBC has reached out to the Indian foreign ministry for further comments on this developing situation.
The incident near the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam marks the most lethal assault on civilians in Kashmir in the past two decades. The region has been a contentious area for both India and Pakistan, which have engaged in two wars over its sovereignty.
In recent days, military personnel from both countries have experienced sporadic exchanges of fire across the border.
Speculation continues regarding whether India will retaliate with military strikes against Pakistan, reminiscent of prior responses following attacks attributed to militants in 2016 and 2019.
Last week, authorities reported conducting extensive operations in Indian-administered Kashmir, leading to the detention of over 1,500 individuals for questioning. Additional detentions have occurred since then, although complete numbers remain unclear.
Authorities have also demolished homes belonging to at least 10 alleged militants, with links to a suspect identified in the Pahalgam shootings.
The disputed region of Kashmir has served as a critical flashpoint between India and Pakistan since their partition in 1947. Both nations claim the territory in its entirety but each governs separate sections.
Kashmir has experienced an armed insurgency against Indian governance since 1989, with both militants targeting security personnel and civilians.
While India has not identified specific groups it suspects of orchestrating the Pahalgam attack, there is uncertainty surrounding the perpetrators. A lesser-known group called the Resistance Front initially claimed responsibility but later retracted its statement, reportedly linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a militant organization based in Pakistan.
Indian law enforcement officials have publicly identified three of the four assailants. Reports indicate that two suspects are Pakistani nationals, with one being a local resident of Indian-administered Kashmir. Details on the fourth suspect remain undisclosed.
Survivors have recounted that the assailants appeared to specifically target Hindu individuals during the attack.
This incident has ignited significant outrage within India, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare that the nation will pursue the culprits “till the ends of the earth” and that those responsible for the planning and execution of the attack “will be punished beyond their imagination.”
Source
www.bbc.com