Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Monday that a military incursion by India appeared imminent.
Speaking to Reuters at his office in Islamabad, Asif confirmed that Pakistan had reinforced its forces along the border. “We have reinforced our forces because it is something which is imminent now. Some strategic decisions have been taken in light of this situation,” he said.
The statement comes in the wake of a terrorist assault in Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 civilians, sparking widespread outrage across India. The Indian government has directly blamed Pakistan for backing the attackers, a charge Islamabad has firmly denied, calling instead for a neutral investigation.
According to Asif, Pakistan’s military has briefed the government regarding the likelihood of an Indian military response, although he refrained from providing detailed intelligence or operational insights. He emphasized that Pakistan remains on high alert and reiterated that its nuclear arsenal would only be used if there were “a direct threat to our existence.”
The fallout from the Pahalgam attack has severely strained diplomatic ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. In a series of retaliatory measures, India has downgraded diplomatic relations, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, closed the main land border crossing, and withdrawn visas for Pakistani nationals.
In response, Islamabad has ordered the expulsion of Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelled visas for Indian citizens, and barred Indian aircraft from using its airspace.
Meanwhile, the Indian government earlier today banned over a dozen Pakistani YouTube channels, including those of major news outlets such as Dawn, Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, Raftar, Geo News, and Suno News, citing “provocative” content.
Both countries remain locked in a tense standoff, with international observers closely watching developments on the ground
Source: Reuters
