Pakistan's defence minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, claimed on Monday that a military incursion by India was imminent in the aftermath of a deadly terror attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam last week. A security personnel keeps vigil, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, in Srinagar, Monday, April 28, 2025. (PTI)
Tensions have been high between the two nuclear-armed nations since the attack that killed 26 people and triggered outrage in the country. There have been several calls for action against Pakistan.
"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 told Reuters in an interview at his office in Islamabad.
Asif said India's rhetoric was ramping up and that Pakistan's military had briefed the government on the possibility of an Indian attack. He did not go into further details on his reasons for thinking an incursion was imminent.
After the Pahalgam attack last week, the investigation pointed out two suspected terrorists as Pakistani. Islamabad has denied any role and called for a neutral investigation.
Asif said Pakistan was on high alert and that it would only use its arsenal of nuclear weapons if "there is a direct threat to our existence".
In the backdrop of the rising tensions over the Pahalgam terror incident, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that Islamabad is ready for a “neutral investigation” into the Pahalgam terror attack.
Addressing a ceremony at a military academy in Abbottabad, Sharif said, “Pakistan is open to participating in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation.” The call was slammed by J&K CM Omar Abdullah.
However, he also asserted that Pakistani forces remain "fully capable and prepared to defend the country's sovereignty and its territorial integrity against any misadventure as clearly demonstrated by its measured yet resolute response to India's reckless incursion in February 2019".
mrgrassydassy on April 28th, 2025 at 15:25 UTC »
I’ve been following the situation between India and Pakistan for a while, and it’s always a bit concerning when tensions flare up like this. The two countries have such a complicated history, and it’s hard not to feel uneasy whenever a new claim or accusation is made. I remember a few years ago when I was traveling in that region, I was talking to some locals in the border areas, and they expressed a lot of frustration and fear over how the military and political rhetoric can escalate so quickly. There’s this constant feeling that even small incidents can blow up and lead to bigger problems. I can’t even imagine what it’s like for the people living there, just trying to go about their daily lives.
From what I’ve seen and heard, both sides seem to play a dangerous game of one-upmanship, and it often feels like the people paying the price are those who just want peace. I’ve read reports of skirmishes, misinformation, and propaganda on both sides, and it makes it even harder to understand the truth of what’s going on. As an outsider, it’s easy to form opinions, but I try to remain cautious about drawing conclusions without understanding the full context. Do others think the situation has been escalating recently, or is this just another instance of political theater? It’s hard to keep track of what’s real and what’s just fueling the fire.
Remarkable-Medium275 on April 28th, 2025 at 15:06 UTC »
Pakistan would only isolate and harm itself further if it makes the first move in a military conflict. I don't see why they would attack first unless it is for nationalistic chest thumping. I have seen both Pakistan and India claim that the other intends to attack first, so it seems to be more bellyaching and looking strong to their domestic audience than actual common sense.
Mundane-Laugh8562 on April 28th, 2025 at 14:39 UTC »
SS: Pakistan's defence minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, claimed on Monday that a military incursion by India was imminent in the aftermath of a deadly terror attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam last week.
Tensions have been high between the two nuclear-armed nations since the attack that killed 26 people and triggered outrage in the country. There have been several calls for action against Pakistan.
"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 told Reuters in an interview at his office in Islamabad.
After the Pahalgam attack, the investigation pointed out two suspected terrorists as Pakistani. Islamabad has denied any role and called for a neutral investigation.