Islamabad says will ‘decisively reply’ to any navy motion as tensions with New Delhi soar after Kashmir assault.
Pakistan’s minister for info and broadcasting says Islamabad has “credible intelligence” that India intends to launch a navy strike throughout the subsequent 24 to 36 hours, as tensions between the 2 international locations escalate following a lethal assault in Indian-administered Kashmir.
In a social media put up early on Wednesday, Attaullah Tarar accused India of utilizing final week’s attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 vacationers, “as a false pretext” to doubtlessly strike Pakistan.
The minister didn’t present any concrete info to again up his declare, and the Indian authorities didn’t instantly remark publicly on the allegations.
“Any act of aggression shall be met with a decisive response. India shall be totally answerable for any critical penalties within the area,” Tarar stated within the put up on X.
Pakistani Minister of Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif additionally instructed the Reuters information company on Monday {that a} navy incursion by India was “imminent”.
Islamabad is on excessive alert however will solely use its nuclear weapons if “there’s a direct risk to our existence”, Asif stated.
India’s Ministry of Exterior Affairs didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from the Reuters information company on the most recent remarks from Tarar.
Tensions between the 2 international locations have been rising after India stated there have been Pakistani components linked to the assault on April 22 within the mountain resort of Pahalgam.
It was the deadliest assault on vacationers in Indian-administered Kashmir in additional than 20 years, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to pursue the attackers.
An announcement issued within the title of The Resistance Entrance (TRF), which is believed to be an offshoot of the Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed duty for the assault.
However Islamabad has denied any function in what occurred and known as for a impartial investigation.
After the assault, the neighbours unleashed a raft of diplomatic measures in opposition to one another, together with visa revocations and the closure of Pakistani airspace to Indian airways.
India additionally suspended its participation within the Indus Waters Treaty, which regulates water-sharing from the Indus River and its tributaries between the 2 international locations.
The transfer spurred protests in Pakistan, and the Pakistani authorities has stated it’s getting ready authorized motion over New Delhi’s choice.
Fireplace additionally has been exchanged alongside the Line of Management (LoC), the 740km (460-mile) de-facto border separating Indian- and Pakistani-controlled areas of Kashmir, prompting worldwide calls to de-escalate tensions.
On Tuesday, the US urged the 2 international locations to work in direction of a “accountable resolution”.
“We’re reaching out to each events, and telling … them to not escalate the scenario,” a Division of State spokesperson instructed reporters, quoting an announcement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The spokesperson added that Rubio would communicate to the international ministers of India and Pakistan on Tuesday or Wednesday and inspired different international ministers to do the identical.
The United Nations additionally stated Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres spoke with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian Minister of Exterior Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and “underscored the necessity to keep away from a confrontation that might end in tragic penalties”.
