Islamabad- Amid heightened tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has made a startling claim, alleging that his government possesses “credible intelligence” indicating that India is planning a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours.
Tarar issued a strong warning to New Delhi, stating that any such military action would trigger consequences. He accused India of using “baseless and concocted” allegations regarding Pakistani involvement in the Pahalgam incident as a pretext for aggression. The minister emphasized that Pakistan has long been a victim of terrorism and has consistently condemned it in all its forms.
He further stated that Islamabad had offered a “credible, transparent and independent” probe by a neutral commission of experts into the Pahalgam attack but accused India of evading investigation and choosing a confrontational path.
Tarar’s statement came hours after reports from India indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told his top defense officials on Tuesday that the armed forces have “complete operational freedom” to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
In earlier strong statements, Prime Minister Modi vowed to identify, track, and punish the perpetrators and their “backers,” asserting India’s determination to pursue the killers to the “ends of the earth” as India intensified its diplomatic efforts against Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has appealed to the international community to remain vigilant, warning that any military “adventurism” by India would be met with an “assured and decisive” response. Islamabad further stated that the “onus of any escalatory spiral and its consequences shall squarely lie with India.”
Adding another layer to the escalating situation, unconfirmed reports have circulated about alleged chaos within the Pakistani Army following the Pahalgam attack. A purported letter from Lieutenant General Umar Ahmad Bukhari to Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir claimed that a significant number of soldiers and officers had resigned in the aftermath of the attack. However, these reports remain unverified, with some Pakistani media outlets dismissing the letters as fake.
The Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 resulted in the deaths of 26 people, mostly tourists, and injured over a dozen others. This has been one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. While the government is yet to officially confirm the casualty figures, security forces have launched extensive search operations in the area, and security has been visibly heightened in the usually bustling tourist hotspot.
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