India Will Begin War With Pakistan Within 24 Hours, Pakistan Says

Summary

Pakistan’s information minister has warned that New Delhi is poised to launch a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours, citing “credible intelligence” that India will begin hostilities imminently. This announcement comes amid an intense diplomatic and military standoff following the April 22 terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which left 26 people dead and for which India blames Pakistan-backed militants. Both nuclear-armed neighbors have since taken retaliatory steps: India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and closed its border crossings, while Pakistan has shut its airspace to Indian aircraft and bolstered its military alert status.

Background of the Pahalgam Attack

On April 22, gunmen attacked tourists in the Pahalgam area of Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 26 individuals, predominantly Indian civilians. Indian authorities swiftly accused militants backed by Pakistan of orchestrating the assault, though Islamabad has vehemently denied any involvement and demanded a neutral, international investigation. The attackers were later linked by New Delhi to a shadowy group calling itself the “Kashmir Resistance,” a claim that remains unverified by independent observers.

Pakistan’s Warning and Intelligence Claims

Late on April 29, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that Islamabad had obtained “credible intelligence” indicating New Delhi plans to initiate a military operation against Pakistan within the next 24 to 36 hours. He warned that Pakistan would “decisively respond” to any act of aggression and stressed that Pakistani forces were on high alert along the Line of Control. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif further underscored that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal would only be contemplated if the country’s very survival were at stake.

Indian Government and Military Position

The Indian government has neither confirmed nor denied the specific time frame of Pakistan’s allegations, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has granted the armed forces “complete operational freedom” to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of any retaliation. India has already undertaken several punitive measures, including suspending the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty, expelling Pakistani diplomats, and imposing new visa restrictions on Pakistani nationals. The Cabinet Committee on Security convened on April 29 to review the evolving threat landscape and refine its strategic options.

International Response

Global actors have urged restraint to prevent a catastrophic escalation between two nuclear-armed neighbors. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for “maximum restraint and dialogue,” while key powers such as the United States and United Kingdom have issued statements stressing the importance of de-escalation. The U.S. State Department has offered to facilitate back-channel communications, and Beijing has appealed for both sides to exercise caution and return to the negotiating table.

Potential Implications

An armed clash between India and Pakistan carries grave risks of a broader regional conflagration, given both countries’ nuclear capabilities. Military analysts warn that even a limited strike could trigger retaliatory reprisals, undermining South Asia’s precarious stability. Economically, heightened tensions threaten cross-border trade and could further destabilize the tourism-dependent economy of Kashmir, which contributes roughly 7 percent to the region’s GDP and employs over 200,000 people. As diplomatic channels buzz with urgent appeals, the world watches closely to see whether cooler heads prevail or if the subcontinent inches closer to open warfare.