Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has warned that an Indian military incursion could be imminent following last week's deadly militant attack on tourists in Kashmir, as tensions escalate between the two nuclear-armed nations.
The attack, which claimed 26 lives, has sparked outrage across Hindu-majority India, with calls for action against Muslim-majority Pakistan, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.
India has accused Pakistan of supporting militancy in Kashmir, a disputed region over which both countries have fought two wars.
Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on April 28 that Pakistan had reinforced its forces in response to the rising threat. "We have reinforced our forces because it is something which is imminent now. So in that situation, some strategic decisions have to be taken, so those decisions have been taken," Asif said in an exclusive interview at his office in Islamabad.
Asif also expressed concerns over India's escalating rhetoric, stating that Pakistan's military had briefed the government about the possibility of an Indian attack. However, he refrained from providing further details on why he believes an incursion is likely.
Following the Kashmir attack, India identified two suspected militants as being Pakistani nationals, a claim which Islamabad has firmly denied, calling for a neutral investigation into the incident.
Despite the heightened tensions, Asif emphasised that Pakistan remained on high alert and would only resort to its nuclear arsenal if "there is a direct threat to our existence."
Notably, as of April 28, 2025, tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following a militant attack in Kashmir on April 22 that resulted in 26 deaths. India has accused Pakistan-based militants of involvement, while Pakistan denies the allegations and calls for an impartial investigation.
In response, both nations have suspended key agreements, including the Indus Waters Treaty, and closed airspace to each other.
By Aghakazim Guliyev
Source: caliber.az
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