ISLAMABAD: On Monday (Apr 28), Pakistan’s defense minister warned that an Indian military incursion could be on the horizon following a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir last week, which has intensified tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.
This attack resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, leading to widespread outrage in India and demands for action against Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of supporting militancy in Kashmir, a contested region that has been a flashpoint for two wars between the countries.
“We have strengthened our forces because it is now a looming threat. Therefore, certain strategic decisions were necessary, and those decisions have been made,” Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif shared in an interview with Reuters at his office in Islamabad.
Asif noted that India’s aggressive rhetoric has increased and that Pakistan’s military had briefed the government about the potential for an Indian attack, although he refrained from providing further specifics on his reasoning.
In the aftermath of the Kashmir attack, India pointed to two alleged militants believed to be from Pakistan. Islamabad has refuted these claims and called for an unbiased investigation.
Asif emphasized that Pakistan remains on high alert and will only resort to its nuclear capabilities if “there is a direct threat to our existence.”
