Pakistan’s Defence Minister warned on Monday that a military incursion by India appeared imminent following last week’s deadly terrorist attack on tourists in Kashmir, escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Pak Minister says invasion by India now imminent
“We have reinforced our forces because an incursion now seems inevitable. In such a situation, strategic decisions were necessary, and those decisions have been made,” Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said in an interview with Reuters at his office in Islamabad.
Asif noted that the Pakistani military had briefed the government on the potential for an Indian attack but declined to provide further details on why he believed an operation was imminent.
He added that Pakistan was on high alert and emphasized that nuclear weapons would only be deployed if there was “a direct threat to our existence.”
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India blames Pakistan behind Pahalgam terror attack
The deadly terrorist attack that took place in J&K’s Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 civilians, sparked outrage across India and led to mounting demands for action against Pakistan, which New Delhi has accused of supporting the perpetrators.
Pakistan has strongly denied the allegation. The terror attack triggered an intense manhunt for the perpetrators, with India identifying two of the attackers as Pakistani nationals — a claim Islamabad has denied, calling instead for an independent investigation.
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India suspends Indus water treaty, Pak retaliates by closing their airspace
In response to the attack, India has downgraded diplomatic relations with Pakistan, suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, closed the main land border crossing, and revoked visas for Pakistani nationals.
Pakistan, in retaliation, expelled Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelled visas for Indians, and barred Indian aircraft from using its airspace.
Meanwhile, earlier today, India also banned more than a dozen Pakistani YouTube channels, accusing them of spreading “provocative” content. The blocked platforms include major Pakistani news outlets such as Dawn, Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, Raftar, Geo News, and Suno News.
