Tensions between India and Pakistan have reached a dangerous new high following the horrific terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, which left 26 people dead, the majority of them innocent tourists. In a significant and alarming statement, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif revealed on Monday that the Pakistani government believes an Indian military strike is "imminent."
Speaking to news agency Reuters, Asif confirmed that Pakistan has reinforced its military deployments along sensitive areas, anticipating possible retaliatory action from India. "We have reinforced our forces because it is something which is imminent now. So, in that situation, some strategic decisions have to be taken, and those decisions have been taken," he said, without going into specifics about troop movements or defensive strategies.
Asif further disclosed that the Pakistani military had briefed top government officials about the possibility of an Indian attack. However, he declined to reveal exactly what intelligence inputs or field developments had triggered this high alert status. His comments strongly suggest that Islamabad is taking India’s response very seriously, especially in light of the highly charged public sentiment and the Indian government's increasingly aggressive posture.
Most notably, Asif issued a chilling warning about the stakes involved, saying, "Pakistan is on high alert and would only use its arsenal of nuclear weapons if there is a direct threat to our existence." While intended perhaps as a deterrent, the mention of nuclear weapons underscores the grave risk of escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, both of whom have fought multiple wars since 1947.
The massacre in Pahalgam — carried out by five to six heavily armed terrorists belonging to The Resistance Front (TRF), a known proxy of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) — is being described as the worst civilian attack in Kashmir in recent years. Victims were reportedly targeted based on their religion, with survivors recounting horrific scenes where those unable to recite the Kalma (Islamic declaration of faith) were brutally gunned down.
Public outrage across India has been intense and unrelenting. Widespread protests have erupted in multiple cities, demanding an immediate and fitting response to Pakistan’s alleged support for terror groups. In response to the attack, India took a series of swift and unprecedented retaliatory actions last week:
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Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a landmark agreement that has governed the sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries between the two countries since 1960. This move signals a major policy shift with deep strategic and humanitarian implications.
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Downgrading diplomatic ties with Islamabad, including recalling Indian diplomats and expelling Pakistani envoys.
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Revocation of all valid visas issued to Pakistani nationals, effectively shutting down all travel routes between the two countries for ordinary civilians.
Pakistan responded with its own measures:
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Suspension of all bilateral trade with India.
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Closure of its airspace to Indian airlines, forcing costly detours for Indian flights headed westward.
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A declaration that any attempts by India to divert water meant for Pakistan under the now-suspended Indus Waters Treaty would be viewed as an Act of War.
The spiral of retaliatory steps has created one of the most serious standoffs between India and Pakistan in years, with international observers growing increasingly concerned about the risk of escalation into open conflict.
Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a fiery and resolute address to the nation, vowing not only to punish the perpetrators of the massacre but also to dismantle the networks and leadership that enable such acts of terror. "Those who plotted it would get a punishment they cannot imagine. The time has come to raze whatever is left of the terror haven. The will of 140 crores will break the back of the masters of terror," PM Modi said, referencing India’s 1.4 billion citizens’ collective resolve.
Security across India's border states has been tightened significantly, and military assets have reportedly been placed on standby. Though the Indian government has not officially confirmed any planned retaliatory strike, the language from top political and military leaders strongly hints that a calibrated response is being prepared.
The coming days are likely to be critical, as both sides weigh their options in an increasingly volatile environment where even a misstep could lead to larger military confrontation.
