'Decisive response': Pakistan claims India attack over Kashmir killings is imminent
Pakistan believes India is likely to attack.
India accuses Pakistan of supporting terrorists who killed 26 on 22 April.
China has urged restraint amid heightened tensions.
Pakistan's information minister said on Wednesday that Islamabad had "credible intelligence" that India was planning an imminent military strike and he vowed a "decisive response", as worries of spiralling conflict grew over a deadly attack in Kashmir.
The statement by Attaullah Tarar came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a closed-door meeting the previous day with army and security chiefs, at which he gave the military "complete operational freedom" to respond to the attack, a senior government source told AFP.
"Pakistan has credible intelligence that India intends to launch a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours using the Pahalgam incident as a false pretext," Tarar said in a statement.
Pahalgam is a tourist hub in Indian-administered Kashmir where 26 men were killed on 22 April, the deadliest attack on civilians in the contested region in years.
India has accused Pakistan of supporting the attack, a claim Islamabad has rejected.
"Any act of aggression will be met with a decisive response," said Tarar.
He added:
The development comes as nations around the world, from neighbouring China to the US, express deep concerns and urge restraint by the nuclear-armed neighbours.
India's army on Wednesday said it had repeatedly traded gunfire with Pakistani troops for a sixth night in a row across the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto Kashmir border, a heavily fortified zone of high-altitude Himalayan outposts.
The army reported "small arms firing" in multiple sites, but with no reported casualties.
Pakistan's military did not confirm the shooting, but state radio in Islamabad reported on Tuesday it had shot down an Indian drone, calling it a violation of its airspace.
#UPDATE Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given India's military "operational freedom" to respond to a deadly attack in Kashmir last week, a senior government source told AFP on Tuesday, after New Delhi blamed it on arch-rival Pakistan ?? https://t.co/l0a9fB9Ky0 pic.twitter.com/XAIl18jB1l
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) April 29, 2025
It did not say when the incident happened, and there was no comment from New Delhi.
Tensions have been rapidly mounting in the week since the Pahalgam attack, with tit-for-tat diplomatic barbs, expulsion of citizens and land border crossings shut.
Last week, Modi vowed to pursue those who carried out the attack, and those who had supported it.
"I say to the whole world: India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backer," he said on Thursday.
"We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth."
The bellicose statements have prompted worries of a spiral into military action, with calls from several nations for restraint.
AFP
The US State Department said top diplomat Marco Rubio would call his Pakistani and Indian counterparts soon to urge them "to not escalate the situation".
UN chief Antonio Guterres meanwhile held calls on Tuesday with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in which he "offered his Good Offices to support de-escalation", his spokesperson said.
Sharif's office later said he had urged Guterres to "counsel India" to exercise restraint, while pledging to defend Pakistan's "sovereignty and territorial integrity with full force in case of any misadventure by India".
Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in full.
AFP
Rebels in the Indian-run area have waged an insurgency since 1989, seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan.
Indian police have issued wanted posters for three men accused of carrying out the Kashmir attack - two Pakistanis and an Indian - who they say are members of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, a UN-designated terrorist organisation.
They have announced a two million rupee ($23 500) bounty for information leading to each man's arrest and carried out sweeping detentions seeking anyone suspected of links to the alleged killers.
The worst attack in recent years in Indian-run Kashmir was at Pulwama in 2019, when a suicide bomber rammed a car packed with explosives into a security forces convoy, killing 40 and wounding 35.
VIDEO: Kashmiris prepare bunkers amid mounting India-Pakistan tensions.
Pulling logs and dusty building materials from a storage bunker outside his home in Kashmir, Riaz Awan readies the underground space to house his family as they brace for clashes between Pakistan and India… pic.twitter.com/GH7kAe658x
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) April 30, 2025
Indian fighter jets carried out air strikes on Pakistani territory 12 days later.
Iran has already offered to mediate and Saudi Arabia has said Riyadh was trying to "prevent an escalation".
US President Donald Trump downplayed tensions, saying on Friday the dispute will get "figured out, one way or another".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Iran's internet blackout leaves its citizens in the dark about war with Israel
As the war between Israel and Iran hits the one-week mark, Iranians have spent nearly half of the conflict in a near-communication blackout, unable to connect not only with the outside world but also with their neighbors and loved ones across the country. Civilians are left unaware of when and where Israel will strike next, despite Israeli forces issuing warnings through their Persian-language online channels. When the missiles land, disconnected phone and web services mean not knowing for hours or days if their family or friends are among the victims. 5 Iranians have spent almost half of the Israel-Iran conflict in an internet blackout, unable to connect with the outside world, as well as their neighbors and loved ones. Iranian Red Crescent/AFP via Getty Images 5 Flames from an oil storage facility after it was hit by an Israeli strike in Tehran, Iran. AP That's left many scrambling on various social media apps to see what's happening — again, only a glimpse of life able to reach the internet in a nation of over 80 million people. Activists see it as a form of psychological warfare for a nation all-too familiar with state information controls and targeted internet shutdowns during protests and unrest. 'The Iranian regime controls the information sphere really, really tightly,' Marwa Fatafta, the Berlin-based policy and advocacy director for digital rights group Access Now, said in an interview with The Associated Press. 'We know why the Iranian regime shuts down. It wants to control information. So their goal is quite clear.' War with Israel tightens information space But this time, it's happening during a deadly conflict that erupted on June 13 with Israeli airstrikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. At least 657 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 2,000 wounded, according to a Washington-based group called Human Rights Activists. Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli military estimates. Most have been shot down by Israel's multitiered air defenses, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds others wounded. Guidance from Israeli authorities, as well as round-the-clock news broadcasts, flows freely and consistently to Israeli citizens, creating in the last seven days an uneven picture of the death and destruction brought by the war. The Iranian government contended Friday that it was Israel who was 'waging a war on truth and human conscience.' 5 A heavily damaged building of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting after it was hit by an Israeli strike. AFP via Getty Images In a post on X, a social media platform blocked for many of its citizens, Iran's Foreign Ministry asserted Israel banned foreign media from covering missile strikes. The statement added that Iran would organize 'global press tours to expose Israel's war crimes' in the country. Iran is one of the world's top jailer of journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, and in the best of times, reporters face strict restrictions. Internet-access advocacy group reported on Friday that Iran had been disconnected from the global internet for 36 hours, with its live metrics showing that national connectivity remained at only a few percentage points of normal levels. 5 A baby is evacuated from the site of a direct hit from an Iranian missile strike in Ramat Gan, Israel, in response to Israel's airstrikes. AP The group said a handful of users have been able to maintain connectivity through virtual private networks. Few avenues exist to get information Those lucky few have become lifelines for Iranians left in the dark. In recent days, those who have gained access to mobile internet for a limited time describe using that fleeting opportunity to make calls on behalf of others, checking in on elderly parents and grandparents, and locating those who have fled Tehran. Read the latest on the conflict between Israel and Iran The only access to information Iranians do have is limited to websites in the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, Iran's state-run television and radio stations offer irregular updates on what's happening inside the country, instead focusing their time on the damage wrought by their strikes on Israel. The lack of information going in or out of Iran is stunning, considering that the advancement of technology in recent decades has only brought far-flung conflicts in Ukraine, the Gaza Strip and elsewhere directly to a person's phone anywhere in the world. That direct line has been seen by experts as a powerful tool to shift public opinion about any ongoing conflict and potentially force the international community to take a side. 5 An injured man is assisted in the street after an explosion in downtown Tehran. AP It has also turned into real action from world leaders under public and online pressure to act or use their power to bring an end to the fighting. But Mehdi Yahyanejad, a key figure in promoting internet freedom in Iran, said that the Islamic Republic is seeking to 'purport an image' of strength, one that depicts only the narrative that Israel is being destroyed by sophisticated Iranian weapons that include ballistic missiles with multiple warheads. 'I think most likely they're just afraid of the internet getting used to cause mass unrest in the next phase of whatever is happening,' Yahayanejad said. 'I mean, some of it could be, of course, planned by the Israelis through their agents on the ground, and some of this could be just a spontaneous unrest by the population once they figure out that the Iranian government is badly weakened.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
White House Rose Garden Bulldozed as Work Starts Paving It Over
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Construction has commenced on projects at the White House ordered by President Donald Trump, with the Rose Garden having been bulldozed as work begins to pave it over. Why It Matters Since his return to the White House, Trump has transformed the Oval Office, making some of the most significant changes to the room's appearance in modern presidential history. There have been gold medallions, gold vermeil figurines, gold eagles and gilded Rococo mirrors added. It has also been reported that Trump wishes to build a ballroom in the White House, similar to the one he has at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago. A labor crew works in the White House Rose Garden on June 9, 2025. A labor crew works in the White House Rose Garden on June 9, 2025. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images What To Know On Monday of this week, reporters noticed that work had begun in the Rose Garden. The Associated Press reported that the project will be completed in approximately two months, citing a White House official who was not authorized to comment publicly. This same official said that employees of the National Park Service, which maintains the White House grounds, had started the work. Images show the process of paving over the Rose Garden, first with construction crews digging up the grass, then poles and mud in the garden area. The most recent images show the garden covered in what looks to be gravel. Ongoing construction is seen in the Rose Garden at the White House on June 17, 2025. Ongoing construction is seen in the Rose Garden at the White House on June 17, previously said he would pave over the Rose Garden because the grass is always wet, and it's an inconvenience for women in high heels. The president also recently oversaw the installation of two flagpoles on the front lawns of the White House, both of which measure 30.5 meters (100 feet) in height. The Rose Garden at the White House being paved over on June 17, 2025. The Rose Garden at the White House being paved over on June 17, Rose Garden was established in 1913 by Ellen Wilson, the wife of President Woodrow Wilson. It was later redesigned by President John F. Kennedy to serve as a space for outdoor ceremonies. It has since become a regular venue for various events, including receptions, press briefings, and other occasions. First lady Melania Trump redesigned the garden in 2019, during her husband's first term. The renovations drew backlash at the time and led to a petition asking for the changes to be reversed. What People Are Saying White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, in a statement shared by The New York Times in March: "The White House has not been given any tender, loving care in many decades, so President Trump is taking necessary steps in order to preserve and restore the greatness and glory of 'the People's House.'" What Happens Next It is unclear when construction on the White House Rose Garden will conclude. Plans for a new ballroom have not been revealed yet.
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Israeli foreign minister slams ‘shameful' request by nine EU nations amid Iran war
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar slammed as 'shameful' a request by nine E.U. member states on Thursday that Brussels take action against goods and services originating from Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria. 'It is regrettable that even when Israel fighting an existential threat which is in Europe vital interest—there are those who can't resist their anti-Israeli obsession,' Sa'ar tweeted. 'Shameful!' Sa'ar was responding to Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, who led the initiative together with his counterparts in Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. 4 'It is regrettable that even when Israel fighting an existential threat which is in Europe vital interest—there are those who can't resist their anti-Israeli obsession,' Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar tweeted. 'Shameful!' AFP via Getty Images Prévot said they asked the European Commission to investigate 'how trade in goods and services linked to illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory can be brought into line with international law.' The move came in response to the July 2024 non-binding advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which Prévot claimed 'clearly states that third countries must refrain from any trade or investment that helps sustain an illegal situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.' 'We have not seen a proposal to initiate discussions on how to effectively discontinue trade of goods and services with the illegal settlements,' the nine ministers reportedly wrote in a missive to the E.U.'s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, that was seen by Reuters. 'We need the European Commission to develop proposals for concrete measures to ensure compliance by the Union with the obligations identified by the Court,' they wrote, according to the press agency. 4 Sa'ar was responding to Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, who led the initiative together with his counterparts in various countries. AP The request comes ahead of a meeting in Brussels on June 23, where E.U. foreign ministers are expected to discuss Israel's compliance with the human rights provisions of the bloc's trade deal with Jerusalem. The probe was proposed by Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, who wrote to Kallas in May requesting a review of the Hamas war. Read the latest on the conflict between Israel and Iran Among those who did not back a review was Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, who suggested the E.U. meet with Jerusalem to raise concerns. Kallas has said that E.U. sanctions against Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria were ready, but that the measures have been blocked by one of its member states. 4 'We have not seen a proposal to initiate discussions on how to effectively discontinue trade of goods and services with the illegal settlements,' the nine ministers reportedly wrote in a missive to the E.U.'s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas. AFP via Getty Images That country is Hungary, according to Reuters. Early on June 13, more than 200 Israeli fighter jets attacked dozens of enemy targets, including military and nuclear sites, in a 'preemptive, precise, combined' opening strike against Tehran's nuclear program. Since the start of the war on June 13, Iranian attacks on Israel's civilian population centers have killed 24 people in the Jewish state. 4 Among those who did not back a review was Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, who suggested the E.U. meet with Jerusalem to raise concerns. REUTERS Three were killed on Friday, 13 overnight on Saturday, and eight early on Monday. Kallas, a former prime minister of Estonia, is a fierce critic of Russia's war on Ukraine and has repeatedly criticized Tehran for its military support to Moscow, as well as its missile attacks on the Jewish state. Last month, Kallas urged the Islamic Republic to 'stop military support to Russia and raise concerns over detained E.U. citizens and human rights,' speaking during a call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
