Imminent India-Pakistan Clash Feared Amid Kashmir Tensions
Tensions between India and Pakistan are rising rapidly following a statement by Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who claimed early Wednesday that Islamabad has “credible intelligence” suggesting India plans to launch a military operation within 24 to 36 hours.
The statement, posted on social media during the early hours, did not detail the specific intelligence or sources behind the claim. Nevertheless, the warning has added urgency to an already volatile situation, prompting both the United States and China to call for restraint from both sides.
This development comes in the wake of a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 tourists were killed in the scenic town of Pahalgam. India has alleged that Pakistan was complicit in the attack—an accusation Islamabad strongly denies, offering instead to support a neutral investigation into the incident.
The disputed region of Kashmir, long a flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, remains a deeply sensitive issue. Both nations claim it in full but administer separate parts, and have fought multiple wars over the territory since gaining independence from British colonial rule nearly 80 years ago.
Public anger in India over the Pahalgam killings has led to growing pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respond forcefully. His administration has previously authorized cross-border strikes. In 2019, Indian warplanes carried out airstrikes inside Pakistani territory in response to another deadly attack on Indian paramilitary forces. That was the first such operation since the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
In a passionate address last week, Prime Minister Modi vowed to hunt down those responsible, intensifying fears that another retaliatory move might be imminent.
On Wednesday, Tarar warned that any act of aggression by India would be met with a “firm and decisive” response by Pakistan. Both countries have taken a series of retaliatory diplomatic and military steps in recent days.
India has revoked visas for Pakistani nationals, while Pakistan has enacted a reciprocal ban. Citizens and diplomats from both nations have been urged to return home by April 30, a symbolic deadline reflecting the severity of the current standoff.
India has also paused its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty, a significant bilateral agreement established in 1960 that governs the sharing of the Indus River system. The river is a critical water source for millions of people across both countries. Pakistan has previously stated that any attempt to restrict its access to Indus waters would be seen as a hostile act.
Meanwhile, military activities on both sides of the border have intensified. Pakistan reported that it intercepted and downed an Indian drone conducting surveillance in Kashmir. In a separate development, India’s navy conducted test missile launches to reaffirm its operational readiness.
Skirmishes have continued along the Line of Control for six consecutive nights, raising concerns of an unintended escalation.
International actors have stepped in to prevent further deterioration. The United States has pledged to engage both nations diplomatically, while China—an ally of Pakistan and a stakeholder in the Kashmir region—has emphasized the need for peace. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently stated that any conflict between India and Pakistan would harm regional stability.
As the deadline mentioned by Pakistani officials draws near, the region watches with unease, hoping diplomacy will prevail over confrontation.
