Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has claimed that Islamabad has “credible intelligence” suggesting that India plans to launch a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours. His statement comes amid escalating tensions following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 tourists dead. The Indian government has blamed Pakistan for backing the militants involved, a charge that Islamabad firmly denies.
Tarar said India is trying to use the Kashmir attack as a “false pretext” to justify a potential strike against Pakistan. “Any such military adventurism by India would be responded to assuredly and decisively,” he warned. These remarks have intensified concerns in a region long fraught with conflict and suspicion. The BBC has reached out to India’s foreign ministry for a response, but no official comment has yet been made.
The attack, which occurred near the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam, is the deadliest assault on civilians in the region in the past 20 years. The location, nestled in the disputed territory of Kashmir, has once again become the focal point of tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Both India and Pakistan lay claim to Kashmir in its entirety, though each only controls parts of it. Since their independence and partition in 1947, the two countries have fought two wars specifically over Kashmir.
In recent days, intermittent exchanges of small-arms fire have been reported across the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border that separates the Indian- and Pakistani-controlled regions of Kashmir. These skirmishes have stoked fears of a larger conflict, especially amid speculation that India may carry out retaliatory military strikes, similar to those it launched in 2016 and 2019 following deadly militant incidents.
Indian authorities responded to the Pahalgam massacre with a large-scale security operation in the region. Officials reported last week that over 1,500 individuals had been detained for questioning. The number has since grown, although no exact figures have been released. These detentions are part of India’s effort to uncover those behind the attack and to prevent further violence.
Authorities have also demolished the homes of at least 10 individuals they allege were militants. Reports indicate that at least one of those whose house was destroyed had ties to a suspect involved in the recent killings. While these measures have been criticized by some human rights groups, Indian officials defend them as necessary steps to ensure security.
The broader backdrop of these developments is Kashmir’s long-standing history as a flashpoint of conflict between India and Pakistan. Since 1989, Indian-administered Kashmir has experienced an armed rebellion against Indian rule. The insurgency has resulted in thousands of deaths, with both civilians and security forces frequently targeted. India has accused Pakistan of supporting and harboring militant groups operating in the region, a charge that Islamabad denies.
So far, Indian authorities have not officially identified the group responsible for the Pahalgam killings. Initially, a little-known organization called the Resistance Front was reported to have claimed responsibility. However, the group later denied any involvement. The Resistance Front has been described as being linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned militant group based in Pakistan that has been accused of orchestrating several previous attacks in India, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Police in Indian-administered Kashmir have named three of the four individuals suspected of carrying out the Pahalgam massacre. According to police, two of the suspects are Pakistani nationals, while the third is a local resident from the region. No details have emerged regarding the identity of the fourth individual.
Accounts from survivors have further inflamed public anger in India. Many survivors reported that the gunmen specifically targeted Hindu men during the attack, a claim that has added a communal dimension to an already volatile situation. This has further fueled national outrage and calls for accountability.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to the attack with a stern message, promising that justice would be delivered. “We will hunt the suspects till the ends of the earth,” he declared. “Those who planned and carried it out will be punished beyond their imagination.” Modi’s remarks reflect the mood in India, where the incident has stirred widespread grief and demands for a strong response.
The ongoing conflict over Kashmir continues to pose a serious risk to peace in South Asia. Despite international calls for dialogue and restraint, both India and Pakistan have maintained hardline positions on the issue. With both nations armed with nuclear weapons, the possibility of escalation remains a significant concern for regional and global stability.
In the past, similar attacks have triggered sharp military responses from India. In 2016, following an assault on an army base in Uri that killed 19 soldiers, India carried out what it called “surgical strikes” on militant camps across the border. Again in 2019, after a suicide bombing in Pulwama claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammed killed 40 paramilitary personnel, India launched air strikes in Balakot, deep inside Pakistani territory. Both incidents brought the two nations to the brink of a wider conflict.
It remains unclear how India will respond this time. Although no official announcement has been made, Tarar’s warning suggests that Pakistan is preparing for the possibility of another cross-border strike. His remarks appear aimed at preempting Indian action and at rallying international attention to Pakistan’s position.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high in Kashmir. Security forces are on heightened alert, and civil liberties have been restricted in several areas amid fears of further unrest. The Indian government has intensified its surveillance and counter-insurgency measures, determined to prevent another tragedy.
For its part, Pakistan continues to insist that it is being unfairly blamed. Tarar reiterated Islamabad’s stance that it had no involvement in the Pahalgam killings and accused India of attempting to manipulate public sentiment for political or military purposes.
As the 24 to 36-hour window cited by Tarar unfolds, all eyes are on South Asia. The situation remains volatile, and the possibility of miscalculation or provocation could have far-reaching consequences. The international community may soon be called upon to step in to prevent another round of escalation between these long-time adversaries.