Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, announced on Monday that the country is preparing for a possible military incursion from neighboring India, following a deadly militant attack on tourists in Kashmir that claimed the lives of 26 people.
The attack, which occurred in the disputed Kashmir region, has further escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations. India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of supporting militant activities in Kashmir — a charge that Islamabad strongly denies. The two countries have fought two wars over the territory since both gained independence in 1947.
In an interview with Reuters, Asif stated that Pakistan’s military forces had been bolstered in response to the growing threat. “We have reinforced our forces because it is something which is imminent now,” he said. “In such a situation, strategic decisions have to be made, and those decisions have been taken.”
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The Defence Minister did not provide specific details regarding the intelligence that led to the heightened threat perception but confirmed that Pakistan’s military leadership had briefed the civilian government on the possibility of an Indian strike.
In the aftermath of the Kashmir attack, Indian authorities claimed the two militants involved were of Pakistani origin. Pakistan has denied any involvement and called for an independent, neutral investigation to determine the facts surrounding the attack.
Asif stressed that while Pakistan is on high alert, the country’s nuclear weapons would only be used if faced with a “direct threat” to its existence.
Tensions have risen between Islamabad and New Delhi, with both sides exchanging strong rhetoric in recent days, fueling international concerns about the potential for further escalation in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
