Pakistan Reportedly Expects Imminent Military Action From India

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated on Monday that the country is preparing for a potential military incursion from neighbouring India, following a recent militant attack on tourists in Kashmir that left 26 people dead.

The attack, which took place in the disputed Kashmir region, has intensified tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

India has long accused Pakistan of supporting militant activity in Kashmir — a claim that Islamabad strongly denies. The two countries have fought two wars over the territory since gaining independence in 1947.

Speaking in an interview with Reuters, Asif said Pakistan’s military forces had been reinforced in anticipation of potential developments. “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.”

The minister did not elaborate on the specific intelligence or developments that led to the heightened threat perception. However, he confirmed that Pakistan’s military leadership had briefed the civilian government regarding the risk of an Indian strike.

In the aftermath of the Kashmir attack, Indian authorities alleged that the two militants involved were of Pakistani origin. Pakistan has categorically rejected any involvement and has called for a neutral, independent investigation to establish the facts.

The minister further emphasized that Pakistan remains on high alert but reiterated that the country’s nuclear arsenal would only be used in the event of a “direct threat” to its existence.

Both Islamabad and New Delhi have exchanged heated rhetoric in recent days, raising concerns internationally about the potential for escalation in one of the world’s most volatile regions.