Pakistan Defence Minister has warned of imminent military action by India amid rising Pahalgam tensions. Photo : ANI "We have reinforced our forces because it is something which is imminent now. So in that situation, some strategic decisions have to be taken, so those decisions have been taken," Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Last week, terrorists opened fire on unarmed civilians in the picturesque Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam , Jammu and Kashmir, most of whom were tourists. Asif stated that India’s rhetoric was escalating and that Pakistan’s military had informed the government about the possibility of an Indian attack. However, he did not elaborate on the specific reasons behind his belief that an incursion was imminent.
Asif stated that Pakistan was on high alert and would only resort to its nuclear arsenal if "there is a direct threat to our existence." In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, implemented several retaliatory measures on Wednesday, including the suspension of visa services for Pakistani nationals. Earlier last week, Khawaja Asif warned India of retaliation if Pakistani citizens were harmed, accusing New Delhi orchestrating terrorism in Pakistan.
In a provocative statement last week, Khawaja Asif warned that India n citizens would not remain safe and it "would made India pay if Pakistani citizens were harmed", accusing New Delhi of orchestrating activities within Pakistan. “If India conducts acts of terrorism in our cities, it will be a tit for tat and we will make them pay," Asif said at post-NSC briefing at Pakistan’s Foreign Office, adding that they had information that India is planning acts of terrorism in different cities," Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said as reported by Times of India. Khawaja Asif’s remarks came in the wake of escalating tensions and the possibility of retaliatory action from India following the brutal Pahalgam massacre in Jammu and Kashmir Notably, Asif had denied any involvement in the ghastly act in Pahalgam.
“There can be no doubt about it that our national policy doesn’t allow the targeting of non-combatants but if the army or police are committing atrocities anywhere in India against people asking for their rights – people who don’t have even fundamental rights, if they are revolting and taking up arms – then it is easy to blame Pakistan,” he added.
