The Minister of Pakistan Defense said on Monday that a military foray for neighboring India was imminent following a deadly militant attack against tourists in cashmere last week, while tensions increase between the two nuclear nations.
The militant attack killed 26 people and sparked indignation in India in the Hindu majority, as well as calls for action against Pakistan with a Muslim majority. India accuses Pakistan of supporting activism in cashmere, a region affirms and fought two wars.
Pakistan Declaration
“We have strengthened our forces because it is something that is imminent now. So, in this situation, certain strategic decisions must be made, so these decisions have been made,” Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif in an interview with his office in Islamabad told Reuters.
Asif said that India’s rhetoric accelerated and that the Pakistani army had informed the government of the possibility of an Indian attack. He did not enter more details on his reasons to think that an incursion was imminent.
After the Kashmir attack, India identified two alleged activists as Pakistani. Islamabad denied any role and called for a neutral investigation.
Asif said Pakistan was on high alert and that it would use its nuclear weapons arsenal if there is “a direct threat to our existence”.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan added that Turkey wanted a de -escalation between Pakistan and India.
