Tourist Incident Heightens Tensions Between Nuclear Rivals India and Pakistan
London – Tensions are rising between India and Pakistan following a televised statement on Wednesday by senior Pakistani official Attaullah Tarar, who claimed that Pakistan has “credible intelligence” suggesting India plans to take military action against Pakistan within the “next 24 to 36 hours.”
This assertion comes after security meetings chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The talks were triggered by a tragic attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people.
The Resistance Front has claimed responsibility for the attack, contributing to the already tense atmosphere between the nuclear-armed nations of India and Pakistan.
The Resistance Front is a banned militant group believed to act as a proxy for Hafiz Saeed’s Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani terrorist organization.
In response, India swiftly closed its border with Pakistan and restricted a special visa program, in addition to withdrawing from the Indus Water Treaty.
This treaty governs the distribution of water from the extensive Indus River system, a crucial resource for millions in both Pakistan and northern India.
While the details of India’s potential actions remain unclear, it is historically known for engaging in covert operations that often go unannounced.
India has previously executed surgical strikes targeting specific locations, as demonstrated in 2016.
In the wake of the Pahalgam attack, there might be attempts to reclaim territory; however, considering the comparable military strengths of both countries, such actions seem improbable.
Moreover, the Indian Navy has reported conducting test missile strikes.
“Indian Navy ships successfully executed multiple anti-ship firings to validate and demonstrate the readiness of platforms, systems, and crew for long-range precision offensive strikes,” the navy announced on April 27, 2025.
It is important to note that a full-scale military conflict has occurred only four times in the last 78 years, with three of those conflicts related to Kashmir.
The diplomatic community is intervening, with U.S. Department official Marco Rubio stating on Tuesday: “We are reaching out to both parties, urging them to avoid escalating the situation.”
Currently, both nations are engaged in exchanges of gunfire along the Line of Control separating India and Pakistan.
Amid public outrage over the attacks, reports indicate that Indian Prime Minister Modi has pledged to “destroy whatever remains of the terror haven.”
The Pakistani government has denied any involvement in the attacks.