Tensions have escalated sharply between India and Pakistan after Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed on Monday that Islamabad has “credible intelligence” of a potential Indian military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours. The statement follows the deadly April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, which killed 26 Hindu tourists. India has blamed Pakistani-based militants for the incident, a charge Pakistan denies.
In response to the rising hostilities, India has reportedly suspended the Indus Waters Treaty while Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian airlines. Cross-border small arms fire has also intensified, breaching the existing ceasefire agreement. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the armed forces full operational freedom, with the Cabinet Committee on Security expected to convene for high-level discussions.
International powers including the United Nations, the United States, and the United Kingdom have urged both nations to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation, amid growing fears of a serious military confrontation over the disputed Kashmir region.
