May 6, Pakistan & New Delhi,
Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed the lives of at least 26 people, mostly tourists. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot, initially claimed responsibility for the attack but retracted the claim after global condemnation.
Amid the fallout, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned on Monday that India could launch a military strike at any time along the Line of Control (LoC). “There are reports that India may strike at any point… New Delhi will be given a befitting reply,” Asif stated in Islamabad. He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for an international investigation into the attack, alleging that India’s accusations are baseless.
Asif also accused India of orchestrating the attack for political purposes and claimed New Delhi has been involved in cross-border terrorism in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan regions. “We provided the UN with evidence in 2016 and 2017,” he said, referencing videos allegedly proving Indian involvement in terror financing.
Last week, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had claimed that India was preparing for a strike within 24-36 hours. However, no such action occurred. Pakistan Army chief General Syed Asim Munir reiterated his forces’ readiness to defend the country with “full force” to protect national honor.
India, meanwhile, has responded strongly to the Pahalgam carnage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the Indian armed forces have “complete operational freedom” to determine the mode, timing, and targets for retaliation. He also announced several punitive steps against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the Attari land border crossing, downgrading of diplomatic ties, and expulsion of Pakistani military attachés.
In retaliation, Pakistan suspended the Shimla Agreement and took reciprocal diplomatic actions. As both nuclear-armed neighbors continue to trade accusations, the international community watches closely amid fears of further escalation.
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