New Delhi: Pakistan’s Minister of Communications, Attaullah Tarar, has stated that intelligence reports suggest India will begin military action against Pakistan within the next 24-36 hours. The Pakistani minister warned that such an action would lead to a strong retaliation against India, accusing India of acting as both the judge and executioner.
This statement from the Pakistani minister comes just hours after reports emerged that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had granted the Indian military full freedom to retaliate for the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The decision to give the military full freedom was made in a 90-minute high-level meeting led by Prime Minister Modi last evening. The military will decide on the target, timing, and method of retaliation. The Cabinet Committee on Security will meet again this morning, followed by a Cabinet meeting where final approval for retaliatory measures will be given. Before the 1999 Kargil War, Cabinet approval had been obtained, and it was directed that the Line of Control should not be crossed. It remains unclear what form the retaliation will take this time.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, and Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh attended the meeting. Following this, Home Minister Amit Shah also held discussions with the Prime Minister.
The Union Home Secretary, Govind Mohan, held talks with the heads of the BSF, CRPF, CISF, SSB, Assam Rifles, and NSG. The BSF provided details about the situation along the international border with Pakistan, while the CRPF briefed on the counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
The terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, last Tuesday, resulted in the deaths of 26 people, including a Malayali. For the fifth consecutive day, Pakistan continued to provoke along the Line of Control. In addition to areas like Baramulla and Kupwara, the Indian Army strongly retaliated against Pakistani troops violating the ceasefire in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu.
