Information Minister Attaullah Tarar issued a stark warning early Wednesday, claiming credible intelligence indicates India plans military action against Pakistan within the next 24 to 36 hours.
This announcement came in a late-night press conference following heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations sparked by the April 22, Pahalgam attack in occupied Kashmir, which India blames on Pakistan, though without providing concrete proof.
Tarar stated that Pakistan possesses credible intelligence pointing to India’s intent to launch military action, using the unsubstantiated allegations regarding the Pahalgam incident as a pretext.
“Pakistan has credible intelligence that India intends to carry out military action against Pakistan in the next 24-36 hours on the pretext of baseless and concocted allegations of involvement in the Pahalgam incident.”
He strongly condemned India’s actions and reiterated Pakistan’s rejection of these accusations and its offer for a transparent, independent investigation by a neutral commission.
“Indian self-assumed hubristic role of judge, jury and executioner in the region”
Pakistan, Tarar emphasized, has itself been a victim of terrorism and has consistently condemned it in all its forms.
The minister’s statement comes a day after India granted its military “operational freedom” to respond to the Pahalgam attack. This decision, according to an unnamed senior Indian government source speaking to AFP, grants the armed forces complete autonomy in determining the mode, targets, and timing of their response. Video footage released by the Indian government showed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting with army and security chiefs.
In the preceding days, both countries have engaged in repeated cross-border gunfire exchanges along the Line of Control (LoC), with each accusing the other of initiating hostilities. Pakistan also reported shooting down an Indian drone, claiming it violated its airspace.
Amidst the escalating tensions, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, expressing serious concerns and urging restraint from India. Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s condemnation of terrorism and its call for a neutral investigation into the Pahalgam attack, while also highlighting India’s alleged state-sponsored terrorism in occupied Kashmir and its weaponization of the Indus River’s waters. He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to defending its sovereignty but also encouraged the UN to counsel India towards responsible action.
The UN Secretary-General expressed deep concern over the rising tensions and offered his good offices to support de-escalation efforts. However, the bellicose statements from both sides and the ongoing military exchanges have fuelled fears of a wider conflict, prompting calls for restraint and dialogue from several international actors, including China.
The Pahalgam attack, which resulted in 26 deaths, has become a focal point of the crisis. India has issued wanted posters for three suspects, including two alleged Pakistanis, and offered a substantial reward for information leading to their arrest. The incident has raised concerns about a potential escalation mirroring the events of 2019, when a Pulwama attack led to cross-border air strikes by both countries. The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia have been in touch with Pakistan in recent days as well.
