The situation between India and Pakistan has sharply escalated following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Intelligence inputs, military movements, and diplomatic retaliation signal that both countries are preparing for a potential military confrontation.
Pakistan, evidently unnerved by the possibility of an Indian strike, has taken several measures in anticipation:
-
Military mobilisation along the international border and the Line of Control (LoC), especially in the Sialkot and Ferozepur sectors.
-
Navy put on standby and radar systems repositioned forward to detect any aerial intrusions.
-
Electronic warfare units deployed to monitor Indian troop movement.
-
TPS-77 radar site activated at Chor Cantonment, enhancing surveillance capability near the border.
-
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has reduced flying operations by over 50%, possibly to keep airspace clear for any urgent military needs or to avoid radar clutter. PAF aircraft movement to northern bases like Lahore and Rawalpindi has been observed.
This comes after Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed they had “credible intelligence” of an imminent Indian military operation in the next 24–36 hours—a direct reaction to Indian Prime Minister Modi granting the Indian armed forces full operational freedom to retaliate.
Meanwhile, India is not standing still:
-
The Indian Air Force has conducted Exercise Aakraman (Attack) featuring Rafale fighter jets and elite pilots.
-
The Indian Navy has demonstrated readiness across maritime boundaries.
-
India has begun diplomatic downgrading, including cancellation of visas for Pakistani nationals, suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, and reduction in diplomatic staff at missions.
Additionally, ceasefire violations by Pakistan have intensified along the LoC and international border, and artillery shelling has resumed. Indian security forces remain engaged in counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
The rhetoric from New Delhi has been stern. PM Modi vowed to "track and punish" all those involved in the Pahalgam massacre, making it clear that supporters of terrorism, state or non-state, will face consequences.
This combination of military posturing, intelligence alerts, and diplomatic isolation indicates a rapidly deteriorating situation. While full-scale war remains unlikely due to international pressure and nuclear deterrence, a limited military retaliation or precision strike by India seems increasingly probable, with Pakistan preparing for that eventuality.
