Pakistan: India is Planning Another Attack; India Denies

The Pakistani Foreign Minister claims that "reliable information" indicates that India is planning an imminent attack on Pakistan; in response, India has denied these statements and accused Pakistan of fueling a "war hysteria." Tensions between the two nuclear neighbors have escalated in recent months, especially following a suicide bombing in Kashmir, India. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the Pakistani Foreign Minister, stated on Sunday, April 7, that according to credible information, India has another plan to attack Pakistan, and "based on our information, this action is likely to occur between April 16 and 20." Speaking to reporters in Multan, southern Pakistan, Qureshi added, "I make this statement responsibly, and I know that each of my words will become headlines in international media." He mentioned that the purpose of this attack is to "increase diplomatic pressures on Pakistan" and that this matter was communicated to all foreign embassies in Islamabad two days prior. Hours after these statements were made public, India reacted strongly, calling the Pakistani Foreign Minister's remarks "irresponsible and ridiculous." Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, stated in a tweet that the Pakistani Foreign Minister's comments were made "to stir exaggerated sentiments about war in the region. Apparently, this blatant trickery is a call for terrorists based in Pakistan to carry out terrorist attacks in India." Tensions between the two nuclear neighbors have particularly heightened following a suicide bombing in Kashmir, India, which resulted in the deaths of 40 security personnel about two months ago. India identified the group responsible for the attack as "Jaish-e-Mohammed," based in Pakistan, and subsequently conducted airstrikes against positions in Pakistani Kashmir. During those attacks, one Indian fighter jet crashed in Pakistani territory, and its pilot was captured by Pakistani forces. During that time, crossfire and retaliatory attacks between Pakistani and Indian forces along the "Line of Control" in Kashmir continued, resulting in several casualties. However, in recent weeks, following the release of the Indian pilot and the detention of several members of "Jaish-e-Mohammed" in Pakistan, tensions between the two countries had decreased. Since 1947, when British rule ended in the region, both India and Pakistan have claimed full ownership of Kashmir, and currently, the "Line of Control" is considered the de facto border between the two countries.