J&K Terror Attack: ‘India’s Incursion Imminent,’ Claims Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Monday warned that India might soon launch a military operation, following the brutal terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists, further heightening tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The attack, which has triggered widespread anger across India, has led to mounting calls for immediate retaliation against Pakistan, which New Delhi accuses of providing safe haven to terrorist groups.
Speaking to Reuters, Asif said, “We have strengthened our forces because something appears imminent. In this situation, certain strategic decisions needed to be made, and those decisions have been taken.”
He added that Pakistan’s military had briefed the government on the likelihood of an Indian offensive, although he did not disclose the specific intelligence that led to this assessment.
Asif also emphasized that Pakistan remained on high alert, asserting that the country would consider the use of its nuclear arsenal only if its existence were directly threatened.
The attack on April 22 was reportedly carried out by five to six terrorists linked to The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), with victims allegedly targeted based on their religion. The massacre is considered the deadliest civilian assault in the Kashmir Valley in recent years, intensifying the diplomatic standoff between India and Pakistan.
In retaliation, India announced the suspension of the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), downgraded diplomatic relations with Islamabad, and cancelled all valid visas previously issued to Pakistani citizens.
Pakistan responded by halting all trade activities, closing its airspace to Indian flights, and warning that any move by India to divert water under the Indus Waters Treaty would be seen as an “Act of War.”
Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning, vowing that those responsible for the attack both perpetrators and masterminds would face severe consequences.
“Those who orchestrated this will face unimaginable retribution. It is time to wipe out what remains of these terror hubs. The collective resolve of 140 crore Indians will crush the backbone of these terror sponsors,” PM Modi declared.