In the town of Attari, India, Pakistan announced on Wednesday that it had obtained “credible intelligence” suggesting India plans to launch an attack on Pakistan within the next few days. This statement comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries since last week’s fatal assault in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir. During this period, Pakistani citizens have followed New Delhi’s directives to exit India.
India has taken measures against Pakistan following accusations that Islamabad supported the Pahalgam attack—a claim Pakistan rejects. This has led to the gravest levels of tension between the nuclear neighbors since 2019. During that year, the two countries nearly engaged in war after a suicide attack in Kashmir, a region claimed by both nations.
Pakistan asserted that the intelligence indicated India’s readiness for military aggression within the next 24 to 36 hours based on baseless allegations. Indian officials have not commented, although government sources disclosed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has empowered the armed forces to determine India’s response modalities to the Pahalgam tragedy. The attack resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, primarily Indian tourists, with a hitherto unknown group, the Kashmir Resistance, claiming responsibility.
Globally, concerns have been raised, leading to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres contacting both nations to prevent an escalation with dire outcomes. The U.S. Secretary of State also engaged with Pakistan’s Prime Minister, emphasizing peaceful resolutions in South Asia. Meanwhile, Pakistan conveyed its readiness to respond robustly to any Indian escalation, despite intentions not to initiate force.
Tensions have escalated further with Pakistan urging its citizens to leave India, except for those with urgent medical needs. Although the Sunday deadline has passed, many Pakistanis continue to make their way to the border in Punjab’s Attari. Some have left voluntarily, while others face deportation. Families, such as that of Sara Khan, are in distress as they are separated from loved ones holding different citizenships while being forced to leave.
Diplomatic frictions have intensified with both countries revoking visas and summoning their diplomats. India has suspended a key water-sharing agreement and closed its borders, while Pakistan responded by closing its airspace to Indian flights. On Wednesday, India closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft until late May.
Cross-border exchanges of gunfire have become more frequent along the Line of Control in the Kashmir region. Both countries pointed fingers at the other for recent ceasefire violations. Pakistan accused Indian forces of starting heavy weapon fire along the Line of Control, prompting Pakistani forces to retaliate. Conversely, the Indian army stated it countered an “unprovoked” small arms attack from Pakistan in Indian-administered Kashmir sectors. Neither side’s claims have been independently verified.
In the wake of these incidents, India’s cabinet security committee, managed by Prime Minister Modi, convened to address these issues for the second time since the Pahalgam attack. Survivors have provided harrowing accounts of the attack, revealing that the gunmen targeted Hindu men specifically, resulting in several tragic deaths, including a tourist and a Nepalese national. As tensions threaten to further escalate, international calls for restraint and dialogue remain crucial in averting potential conflict.