Pakistan claims 'credible intelligence' India is planning an imminent military strike

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following a tragic attack in Pahalgam, where 26 tourists lost their lives. Pakistan's information minister, Attaullah Tarar, has stated that they possess credible intelligence suggesting that India is planning a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours. This statement comes in the wake of India's accusations against Pakistan for allegedly supporting militants responsible for the attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan has firmly rejected these allegations, asserting that they are unfounded. Tarar further claimed that India intends to use the attack as a 'false pretext' to justify military action against Pakistan. He warned that any military aggression from India would be met with a strong and decisive response from Pakistan. The BBC has reached out to the Indian foreign ministry for their comments on the situation. The attack near Pahalgam marks the deadliest assault on civilians in the region in two decades. Both India and Pakistan lay claim to this territory and have fought two wars over it. In recent days, troops from both nations have engaged in sporadic small-arms fire across the border. Speculation is rife regarding whether India will respond with military strikes against Pakistan, reminiscent of their actions following deadly militant attacks in 2019 and 2016. Authorities in India reported last week that they had conducted extensive searches in Indian-administered Kashmir, detaining over 1,500 individuals for questioning. Since then, more people have been detained, although the exact numbers remain unclear. At least one of those detained is reportedly linked to a suspect identified in the shootings. Kashmir, a region claimed in full by both India and Pakistan but administered only in part by each, has been a flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed nations since their partition in 1947. Since 1989, Indian-administered Kashmir has experienced an armed insurgency against Indian rule, with militants targeting both security forces and civilians. India has not publicly named any group it suspects of carrying out the attack in Pahalgam, leaving the identity of the attackers uncertain. A lesser-known group called the Resistance Front was initially reported to have claimed responsibility for the shootings but later issued a statement denying any involvement. This group is believed to have ties to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a militant organization based in Pakistan. Indian police have identified three of the four suspected attackers, stating that two are Pakistani nationals and one is a local man from Indian-administered Kashmir. There is no information available regarding the fourth individual. Many survivors of the attack reported that the gunmen specifically targeted Hindu men. The incident has ignited widespread anger in India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly declaring that the country will pursue the suspects 'to the ends of the earth' and that those responsible for planning and executing the attack 'will be punished beyond their imagination.