Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that after a recent attack on tourists in Kashmir, a military invasion by India looks imminent, further escalating tensions between the two nuclear powers. About this informs Reuters.
“We have strengthened our forces because this is what is now inevitable. Therefore, in this situation, some strategic decisions have to be made, so these decisions have been made”, — noted Asif.
After the attack in Kashmir, as a result of which 26 people died, there was a wave of indignation in India. There have been calls for a crackdown on Muslim-majority Pakistan in the predominantly Hindu country. India accuses Pakistan of supporting militants in the disputed region of Kashmir, over which the states have repeatedly fought.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif emphasized that India is intensifying its aggressive rhetoric, and the Pakistani military has already informed the government about the possibility of preparing an attack.
The Indian ministries of defense and foreign affairs have yet to provide official comments. After the attack, India said the attackers were Pakistani nationals. Islamabad denies this and demands an independent investigation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to find and bring those responsible to justice.
Asif emphasized that Pakistan is on high alert, but will use nuclear weapons only in the event of a direct threat to the country. He also reported that Islamabad has turned to its allies — the Persian Gulf countries, China, the United States, Great Britain and others — for support. According to him, some countries of the region have already acted as mediators.
After the terrorist attack, India announced the termination of the Indus Water Treaty, an important intergovernmental agreement on the sharing of water resources. In response, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian aircraft. Asif said that the termination of the water agreement is an “act of war” because the agreement is vital for the people of Pakistan. The country has already appealed to international organizations, in particular the World Bank, to protect the agreement.
India also again accused Pakistan of supporting radical groups involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed more than 166 people. Islamabad rejects these accusations.
