Pakistan Claims India May Launch War Within 36 Hours Amid Rising Tensions

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, claimed that the country had “credible intelligence” suggesting India plans a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours.

The announcement, made late Tuesday night on social media, did not provide any evidence to support the claim.

This development comes after the tragic killing of 26 tourists in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, on April 23, an attack that has ignited outrage across India.

New Delhi has accused Islamabad of involvement, though Pakistan has denied these allegations and called for a neutral investigation.

The region of Kashmir remains a highly volatile flashpoint, claimed by both nations but divided by the Line of Control. India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed, have fought three wars over the region since gaining independence nearly 80 years ago.

In 2019, India conducted airstrikes inside Pakistan in retaliation for an insurgent attack in Kashmir, marking the first such military action since the 1971 war.

Following the recent massacre, fears of a similar military response are mounting, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledging to pursue the attackers “to the ends of the earth.”

Pakistan warned that any Indian military move would be “responded to assuredly and decisively.”

Global powers have called for restraint as tensions rise between India and Pakistan. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to engage with leaders from both nations, with the U.S. State Department stressing the importance of de-escalation.

China, which also claims part of Kashmir and has close ties with Pakistan, echoed similar concerns. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that any conflict between India and Pakistan would destabilize the region.

In the aftermath of the attack, both nations have engaged in tit-for-tat measures. India canceled visas for Pakistani nationals, leading to a reciprocal response. Both sides have also called for the return of diplomats and citizens before April 30.

India suspended its participation in the Indus Water Treaty, a 1960 agreement regulating the sharing of water from the Indus River system, which is vital for millions in both countries. Pakistan has warned that any attempt to block or divert its share of the water would be viewed as an act of war.

Military posturing has intensified, with Pakistan claiming it shot down an Indian drone engaged in espionage over the disputed region. India’s navy, in turn, announced successful long-range precision missile tests to demonstrate its operational readiness.

For six consecutive nights, gunfire has been exchanged along the Line of Control, raising concerns that both countries are inching closer to open conflict.