Pakistan said Wednesday that Islamabad had "credible intelligence" that India was planning an imminent military strike and he vowed a "decisive response", as worries of spiralling conflict grew over a deadly attack in Kashmir.
The statement by Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a closed-door meeting the previous day with army and security chiefs, at which he gave the military "complete operational freedom" to respond to the attack, a senior government source told AFP.
"Pakistan has credible intelligence that India intends to launch a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours using the Pahalgam incident as a false pretext," Tarar said in a statement.
Pahalgam is a tourist hub in Indian-occupied Kashmir where 26 men were killed on April 22, the deadliest attack on civilians in the contested region in years.
India has accused Pakistan of supporting the attack, a claim Islamabad has rejected.
"Any act of aggression will be met with a decisive response," said Tarar. "India will be fully responsible for any serious consequences in the region!"
The development comes as nations around the world, from neighbouring China to the United States, express deep concerns and urge restraint by the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Pakistani troops on Tuesday shot down two Indian spy drones along Line of Control in Kashmir, calling it a violation of its airspace.
Tatar’s statement
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar late Tuesday said the “credible intelligence” reports indicated to the Indian nefarious plans of conducting a military action against Pakistan in next 24 to 36 hours, which he said, would have “catastrophic consequences for the entire region and beyond”.
“Pakistan has credible intelligence that India intends carrying out military action against Pakistan in the next 24-36 hours on the pretext of baseless and concocted allegations of involvement in the Pahalgam incident,” said the minister while speaking to the media.
He said Pakistan vehemently rejected “Indian self-assumed hubristic role of Judge, Jury and Executioner in the region” which is completely “reckless”.
“Pakistan has been the victim of terrorism itself and truly understands the pain of this scourge,” he said, adding “We have always condemned it in all its forms and manifestations anywhere in the world.”
Being a responsible state, he said Pakistan open heartedly offered a credible, transparent and independent investigation by a neutral commission of experts to ascertain the truth.
“Unfortunately, rather than pursuing the path of reason, India has apparently decided to tread the dangerous path of irrationality and confrontation, which will have catastrophic consequences for the complete region and beyond,” the minister stressed.
He said “evasion of credible investigations is in itself sufficient evidence exposing India’s real motives.” “Consciously making strategic decisions hostage to public sentiments, purposefully trumped up for securing political objectives, is unfortunate and deplorable,” the minister added.
He said Pakistan reiterated that any such military adventurism by India would be responded to assuredly and decisively.
“The International community must remain alive to the reality that the onus of escalatory spiral and its ensuing consequences shall squarely lie with India,” Tarar emphasized.
He reiterated the nation’s resolve to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan at all cost.