As fears of escalating conflict increased following a deadly incident in Kashmir, Pakistan’s communications minister declared Wednesday that Islamabad had “credible intelligence” that India was preparing an impending military strike and he promised a “decisive response.”
According to a senior government source who spoke to AFP, Attaullah Tarar’s speech followed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s closed-door meeting with army and security officials the day before, during which he granted the military “complete operational freedom” to respond to the attack.
“Pakistan has credible intelligence that India intends to launch a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours using the Pahalgam incident as a false pretext,” Tarar said in a statement.
Pahalgam is a tourist hub in Indian-administered Kashmir where 26 men were killed on April 22, the deadliest attack on civilians in the contested region in years.
India has accused Pakistan of supporting the attack, a claim Islamabad has rejected.
“Any act of aggression will be met with a decisive response,” said Tarar. “India will be fully responsible for any serious consequences in the region!”
The development comes as nations around the world, from neighbouring China to the United States, express deep concerns and urge restraint by the nuclear-armed neighbours.
India’s army reported Wednesday that it has engaged in a sixth consecutive night of gunfire exchanges with Pakistani forces across the Line of Control (LoC), which is the de facto border with Kashmir and a heavily fortified area of high-altitude Himalayan outposts.
Although there were no recorded injuries, the army reported “small arms firing” at several locations.
State radio in Islamabad said Tuesday that Pakistan had shot down an Indian drone, claiming it had violated its airspace, although the Pakistani military did not acknowledge the shooting.
When the incident occurred was not specified, and New Delhi made no comment.
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