Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated sharply after Islamabad claimed India plans to launch a military strike within 36 hours. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said intelligence agencies had credible information that India would attack using Kashmir violence as a pretext.
India has accused Pakistan of aiding militants responsible for the recent Pahalgam massacre that killed 26 tourists. Pakistan has denied all allegations and warned of a decisive response to any aggression.
On April 22, armed militants ambushed buses near the tourist town of Pahalgam in Indian administration Kashmir. Survivors said the attackers identified and targeted Hindu men before shooting them at close range.
Indian authorities called the attack the deadliest on civilians in the region in two decades. Indian officials identified three attackers, including two Pakistani nationals, as terrorists, though the fourth remains unidentified.
While a little-known group initially claimed responsibility, it later denied involvement. Police continue their investigation and have detained over 1,500 people for questioning. Despite the rising India-Pakistan military tensions, top generals from both sides held routine weekly tasks.
Indian sources said they objected to unprovoked firing from across the border. The Pakistani side confirmed the talks but did not disclose further details. No casualties were reported from six consecutive nights of cross-border fire.
Meanwhile, India’s Cabinet Committee on Security, led by Prime Minister Modi, met Wednesday for the second time since the attack. Modi repeatedly granted military leaders autonomy in choosing an appropriate response.
He previously promised to pursue the attackers till the ends of the earth. International leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, urged both nations to avoid escalation. The United States and Britain also called for calm, and travel warnings were issued for Jammu and Kashmir.
