Islamabad - Saba:
Pakistan's Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, reiterated Islamabad's stern warnings about the consequences of any potential attack by India, amid escalating tensions following the attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
In an interview with Pakistani television channel Dunya TV, Tarar said, "Pakistan has received credible information about an Indian plan to launch a military attack," adding, "If India attacks, it will face an appropriate response."
The Pakistani minister noted "the effective role of Pakistan's Army Chief, General Syed Asim Munir, in this situation," reiterating his country's military readiness to confront any potential armed conflict.
The official rejected what he described as India's narrative on the outstanding issues, saying that "New Delhi is facing diplomatic embarrassment on the global stage," adding that "Pakistan is effectively presenting its case, seeking to garner support, and declaring its position globally."
According to Tarar, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been in contact with countries such as China and Saudi Arabia to convey Islamabad's position on India's provocative stance, saying, "The Indian narrative is false. India is feeling diplomatic embarrassment." On the other hand, Pakistan is successfully presenting its case on the international stage.
On April 23, Indian security forces launched a massive search operation in Kashmir, the day after a deadly armed attack that killed 26 tourists.
The attack occurred when gunmen emerged from the forests and opened fire on crowds at a popular tourist site in Pahalgam, about 90 kilometers from Srinagar, the region's summer capital.
According to local Indian media, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the attack as "the most violent of its kind against civilians in recent years."
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the region has been gripped by an armed insurgency since 1989.
In a separate incident, the Indian army reported a "heavy exchange of fire" with militants, who it said were part of an "infiltration attempt" across the disputed border from Pakistan. It added that "two terrorists were eliminated."
| more of (International) |