Pakistan claims India is planning a strike over Kashmir tensions
By isabelle // 2025-04-30
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  • Pakistan accuses India of planning a military strike within 24 to 36 hours, warning of a decisive response amid heightened nuclear tensions over Kashmir.
  • India blames Pakistan for a deadly attack on Hindu pilgrims in Kashmir, with PM Modi granting military "full operational freedom" for retaliation.
  • Pakistan denies involvement, calling the attack a potential "false flag" operation, while both nations suspend diplomatic ties and escalate military posturing.
  • The U.S. and China urge restraint as Pakistan and India exchange gunfire, conduct missile tests, and dispute a critical water-sharing treaty.
  • Kashmir, a volatile nuclear flashpoint, faces renewed conflict risks as diplomatic efforts struggle to de-escalate tensions between the arch-rivals.
Pakistan has accused India of preparing to launch a military strike against its territory within 24 to 36 hours, signaling a dangerous escalation in tensions between two nuclear-armed rivals. The claim, made late Tuesday by Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on social media, alleges India plans to use last week’s deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, a region both countries claim, as a “false pretext.” Tarar warned that any such act of aggression would be met with a “decisive” response, while India vows retaliation for the April 22 assault that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu pilgrims. The attack, claimed by a little-known militant offshoot, has rekindled fears of war over the disputed region after decades of hostilities. According to reports, India’s prime minister Narendra Modi has granted his military “full operational freedom” to respond to the attack, which Indian officials blame on Pakistan. Islamabad has repeatedly denied involvement but has countered by accusing India of backing “terrorist networks” on its soil. The two nations remain locked in a tit-for-tat exchange of condemnations, protests, and military posturing that risks spiraling into conflict.

The Pahalgam attack

The April 22 attack in Pahalgam, a scenic Himalayan valley in Indian-administered Kashmir, began when gunmen opened fire on a group of Hindu pilgrims and tourists. The Resistance Front, a group linked to the Pakistan-based militant faction Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility but later denied involvement. Indian police have detained more than 1,500 suspects in raids and identified three of the four attackers as Pakistani nationals and a local resident. Survivors reported the shooters specifically targeted Hindu men. Modi vowed to pursue perpetrators “to the ends of the earth.” His hardline stance aligns with India’s historical response to attacks blamed on Pakistan, including retaliatory strikes in 2019 that damaged suspected militant infrastructure in Pakistan. But this time, Pakistan appears better prepared for a response. In an interview, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif accused India of fabricating evidence to justify military action, calling the attack a potential “false flag” operation. Meanwhile, both countries have suspended diplomatic ties, revoked visa agreements, and warned citizens to leave each nation’s territory by April 30. India has also suspended a key water-sharing treaty with Pakistan, which was dubbed an “act of war” by Islamabad and further strained relations.

International warnings amid military posturing

The U.S. and China have urged restraint, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowing to contact Indian and Pakistani leaders. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized: “We are reaching out to both parties, and telling, of course, them to not escalate the situation.” Washington considers India a counterbalance to Chinese influence in Asia, while Pakistan remains a strategic partner for both the U.S. and China. Beijing has leaned on Islamabad to keep tensions in check, as a conflict could destabilize China’s economic investments in Pakistan, particularly under its massive Belt and Road Initiative. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently warned that any clash would harm regional security and the interests of both nations. Despite calls for calm, military activity has intensified. Pakistan’s military claims to have shot down an Indian surveillance drone in Kashmir, while India conducted a missile test earlier this month involving its navy’s long-range strike capability. Exchanges of gunfire have also flared along the Line of Control for six consecutive nights, a border stretching through divided Kashmir.

The global Stakes of a nuclear flashpoint

Kashmir, a region roughly the size of Hungary, has been a bone of contention since India and Pakistan’s independence in 1947. Divided into Indian- and Pakistani-administered zones by the Line of Control, it remains one of the world’s most militarized borders, with over 500,000 Indian troops stationed there alone. The constant presence of soldiers, frequent internet blockades, and restrictions on movement have fueled anger among locals, some of whom support independence or union with Pakistan. The current crisis marks a sharp downturn from years of fragile de-escalation after trade routes resumed in 2023. Analysts fear the region’s status as a nuclear flashpoint — both nations test-fired missiles in 2019 — could see a conflict rapidly spiral. As clock ticks toward Pakistan’s alleged window for a strike, diplomats and observers hold fragmented hope that dialogue might avert war. However, the cycle of blame and military bravado shows no signs of pausing and few incentives for compromise. With U.S. efforts still in early stages and China’s influence less than decisive, the region’s inhabitants brace for upheaval. Kashmiris, in particular, face a future of either violent upheaval or renewed marginalization, with the world watching as two nuclear armed states tiptoe toward confrontation. Sources for this article include: RT.com CNN.com BBC.com
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