India-Pakistan Tensions Spike Amid Claims of Imminent Military Action
Tensions between India and Pakistan have sharply escalated after a senior Pakistani official claimed early Wednesday that New Delhi is planning imminent military action against Islamabad.
Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, said the country has obtained “credible intelligence” suggesting India could strike within the next 24 to 36 hours. The announcement came in an unusual late-night post on X, formerly Twitter, though Tarar provided no details about the source or nature of the intelligence.
“Pakistan has credible intelligence that India intends carrying out military action against Pakistan in the next 24-36 hours,” Tarar wrote.
The alarming claim comes as the United States and China both called on the rival nations to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation.
This latest flashpoint follows a brutal attack last week in the tourist town of Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, where militants killed 26 civilians. The massacre has ignited national outrage in India.
New Delhi has accused Islamabad of playing a role in the attack—an allegation Pakistan strongly denies. In response, Pakistan has called for an independent investigation led by a neutral party.
CNN has reached out to India’s defense ministry for comment on the allegations.
Kashmir, long one of the world’s most volatile regions, remains a deeply contested territory. Both India and Pakistan claim it in full, though it is currently divided and administered separately by the two nations. Since gaining independence from Britain nearly 80 years ago, the nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars—most of them over Kashmir.
Mounting Pressure and Global Concern as India-Pakistan Tensions Rise
Last week’s brutal attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir triggered a wave of public outrage across India, placing immense pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respond forcefully.
Modi, in a fiery address, vowed to chase the perpetrators “to the ends of the earth,” signaling a hardline stance that has raised fears of military retaliation. The memory of 2019 looms large—when India carried out airstrikes deep inside Pakistani territory following an insurgent attack on Indian paramilitary forces. It was the first such operation since the two nations’ war in 1971.
Now, with tensions escalating rapidly, many fear that a similar strike could be imminent.
Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, reinforced those concerns on Wednesday, warning that “any military adventurism by India would be responded to assuredly and decisively.”
U.S. and China Urge Restraint
The situation has drawn swift responses from global powers. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to speak with his counterparts in both India and Pakistan, possibly “as soon as today,” according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
“We are reaching out to both parties, urging them not to escalate the situation,” Bruce told reporters, relaying Rubio’s message of de-escalation.
The stakes are high for Washington, which views New Delhi as a critical ally in its broader strategy to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. Pakistan, meanwhile, remains an important—if more complicated—strategic partner.
China, which also claims parts of Kashmir and has strengthened ties with Pakistan in recent years, echoed the call for calm. Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke last week with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, warning that any armed conflict “would not serve the fundamental interests of either side” and could destabilize the region, according to Chinese state broadcaster CGTN.
India-China Tensions Add to Regional Volatility as India-Pakistan Standoff Escalates
India’s fraught relationship with China continues to cast a shadow over the region, with recent border clashes adding strain to already tense ties. Meanwhile, Beijing and Islamabad have deepened their partnership, as China pours investment into Pakistan through its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.
Diplomatic Fallout: Tit-for-Tat Moves Escalate
In the immediate aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre, diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan took a sharp nosedive.
New Delhi revoked visas for Pakistani nationals, prompting an identical response from Islamabad. Both governments have advised diplomats and citizens to leave the other’s country by April 30—a dramatic move that underscores the seriousness of the standoff.
In a more consequential shift, India has also suspended its participation in the Indus Water Treaty, a landmark agreement in place since 1960. The treaty has long been considered a rare example of successful diplomacy between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Governing the distribution of water from the Indus River system—a lifeline for millions in both countries—the treaty’s suspension signals a dangerous escalation. The Indus originates in Tibet, flows through Indian-controlled Kashmir, and is critical to agriculture and daily life across Pakistan.
Islamabad has warned that any attempt to halt or divert Pakistan’s share of the river would be seen as an act of war.
Military Posturing on Both Sides
This week, both sides have visibly flexed their military muscles.
On Tuesday, Pakistan claimed to have shot down an Indian surveillance drone operating in the disputed Kashmir region. Pakistani security sources said the drone was being used for “espionage.”
Meanwhile, India’s navy announced it had successfully conducted long-range missile tests, describing the exercise as a demonstration of “platform, system and crew readiness for precision offensive strikes.”
The Line of Control—Kashmir’s de facto border—has also become a flashpoint once again. Gunfire has been exchanged nightly for six consecutive days, fueling fears of a broader conflict.
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