Pakistan Claims ‘Credible Evidence’ India Is Planning ‘Military Action’ Soon—As Tensions Rise Between Neighbors

 

A policeman, left, checks a vehicle as paramilitary soldiers stand guard at a temporary checkpoint in Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir.

Pakistan claimed it had “credible intelligence” India was planning to conduct military action on its territory, warning it would retaliate if so, as tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals rise after India blamed Pakistan for a deadly attack in its Kashmir region that saw gunmen kill 26 tourists.

Key Facts

In an announcement early Wednesday, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed his country has “credible intelligence that India intends to carry out military action against Pakistan in the next 24-36 hours.”

Tarar dismissed claims of Pakistan’s involvement in last week’s terrorist attack on the Kashmiri tourist town of Palagham, saying they were “baseless and concocted allegations.”

Tarar warned any military action by India will be “responded to assuredly and decisively,” and a conflict between the two countries could “have catastrophic consequences for the complete region and beyond.”

Over the past week, Indian and Pakistani forces have exchanged gunfire along the Line of Control, the de facto border between the two countries that runs through the disputed Kashmir region.

On Tuesday night, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted he spoke with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres over the phone, where he rejected “baseless Indian accusations” and called for an investigation into the Palagham attack.

Guterres’ office confirmed he had spoken to both Sharif and Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, where he “underscored the need to avoid a confrontation that could result in tragic consequences.

What Have Indian Officials Said About Pakistan’s Claims?

India has not commented on Tarar’s claims of imminent military action. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held cabinet meetings at his residence in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss the fallout of last week’s attack. The government also announced it was revamping the country’s National Security Advisory Board, which will now be chaired by the country’s former spy chief, Alok Joshi. In a separate high-level meeting on Tuesday, Modi reportedly granted the Indian Armed Forces “complete operational freedom” on any potential military response to the attack.

What Has The U.s. Said About The India-Pakistan Tensions?

Last week, President Donald Trump condemned the attack on Palagham in a Truth Social post, saying: “The United States stands strong with India against Terrorism…Prime Minister Modi, and the incredible people of India, have our full support and deepest sympathies.” During a press briefing Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters the U.S. is “reaching out to both parties and telling, of course, them to not escalate the situation.” She noted Secretary of State Marco Rubio expects to speak with the foreign ministers of both countries by Wednesday and is “encouraging other national leaders, other foreign ministers, to also reach out to the countries on this issue.”

What Has China Said About The Spiralling India-Pakistan Tensions?

China, which counts Pakistan as a close regional ally in South Asia, expressed support for Islamabad’s demand for an independent investigation into the Palagham attack. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters on Monday that Beijing “welcomes all measures that will help cool down the current situation and supports carrying out fair and just investigations at an early date. As the neighbor of both India and Pakistan, China hopes that India and Pakistan will exercise restraint.”

Who Was Killed In The Palagham Attack?

The deadly attack took place last on April 22 in the mountain resort town of Palagham, in Indian-administered Kashmir. Gunmen opened fire on tourists in Palagham’s Baisaran Valley, killing 26 people and injuring at least 17 others. The killings were the deadliest attack on civilians in the disputed Kashmir region in more than three decades. Twenty-five of the 26 deceased tourists were Indian nationals, while one individual was from Nepal. All the deceased victims were male and survivors claimed the gunmen asked some of the victims to identify their religion before opening fire. Indian officials have said the Palagham attack is the deadliest terror attack on Indian soil since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Who Has Claimed Responsibility For The Attack?

A group known as The Resistance Front (or Kashmir Resistance) claimed responsibility. The group is considered an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terror group which carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The Indian government has designated TRF as a terror group and its leader, Sheikh Sajjad Gul, as a terrorist.