Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warns of attack risk from India amid Pahalgam incident

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that a military incursion by India appears imminent following last week's deadly attack on tourists in the Pahalgam region of Indian-occupied Kashmir, heightening tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The assault, which claimed 26 lives, sparked outrage across India and led to demands for action against Pakistan.

Speaking to Reuters at his office in Islamabad, Khawaja Asif said, "We have strengthened our forces because an attack now seems imminent. Strategic decisions have been made accordingly."

He noted that India’s aggressive rhetoric was intensifying and confirmed that Pakistan’s military had briefed the government on the possible threat of an Indian strike.

However, he did not elaborate on the specific intelligence suggesting an impending incursion.

Following the Pahalgam attack, Indian authorities identified two suspects as Pakistani nationals. Islamabad firmly denied any involvement, calling instead for a neutral investigation.

Asif stressed that Pakistan remains on high alert and would only consider using its nuclear arsenal if faced with an existential threat.

In an earlier interview with Samaa TV, Asif had strongly rejected India's allegations regarding the Pahalgam attack, describing it as a “fabricated drama” orchestrated to bolster Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political standing.

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During a conversation from Sialkot, he pointed out that several voices within India were also questioning Modi's narrative, suggesting the incident might have been politically motivated. Asif urged the establishment of an international commission—under the United Nations or regional powers—to independently investigate the attack, echoing a proposal by Pakistan’s prime minister.

He further compared the Pahalgam incident to the Pulwama episode, emphasizing that no substantial evidence had emerged then either. Pakistan, he said, fully trusts international institutions and is prepared to cooperate in a transparent inquiry.