Forces reinforced as Indian attack seems imminent: Asif

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Monday a military incursion by India was imminent, as tensions rise between the two nuclear-armed nations. “We have reinforced our forces because it is something which is imminent now. So in that situation, some strategic decisions have to be taken, so those decisions have been taken,” the minister said in an interview at his office in Islamabad. Khawaja Asif said India’s rhetoric was ramping up and that Pakistan’s military had briefed the government on the possibility of an Indian attack. He did not go into further details on his reasons for thinking an incursion was imminent. The minister said Pakistan was on high alert and that it would only use its arsenal of nuclear weapons if “there is a direct threat to our existence”.

Meanwhile, the ruling PMLN said in the Senate on Monday the world community did not support India’s position and lies, and opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) called for convening an all parties conference (APC) on the matter.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle poured scorn on New Delhi for resorting to baseless allegations against Pakistan instead of probing the incident and questioning the security forces for the occurrence.

Taking part in the discussion, PTI parliamentary leader Syed Ali Zafar proposed the APC and making sure participation of his leader Imran Khan in it, as his presence in it would be the only answer and the correct thing to do in the present circumstances.

He said, “If Imran Khan’s voice is heard by the people at such forums, it will resonate across the world and make Pakistan’s cause stronger and India’s designs would fall to the ground.” He noted that the opposition had set aside all political differences for an issue of national importance and now it was time for the government to prove its sincerity. “I want to tell the world that this is a blatant and baseless lie, which is motivated by malice, as [Narendra] Modi and his government are in the habit of making such allegations and expert in conducting false flag operations.”

Regarding New Delhi’s move on the Indus Waters Treaty, he said India had no right to unilaterally suspend, amend or cancel the treaty and any such action of the Modi regime was illegal and against the international laws. He cautioned that any attack on the treaty amounted to an act of war against Pakistan, making it clear that the whole nation was united. He remarked, “We will fight for each drop of water till last drop of our blood.”

Earlier, PMLN parliamentary leader Irfan Siddiqui said the global community did not support India’s position and lies, as all aspects of the Pahalgam false flag operation were suspicious. He pointed out that it appeared that an FIR was lodged before the incident, and only yesterday, the National Investigation Agency was given the task to probe the matter. But ‘we were squarely blamed for it’ without any evidence. He said if New Delhi committed any aggression, the Pakistani forces would give a befitting reply.

He said India was in the habit of staging acts and these occur with a special background, and recalled when President Bill Clinton visited India in 2000, around 40 Sikhs were massacred, and the blame was placed on Pakistan. Now, during the visit of the US vice president, 26 people have been killed and the blame was placed on Pakistan, he added.

Leader of the opposition in Senate, Shibli Faraz, rose to demand that PTI supremo Imran Khan should be allowed to appear on TV screen to give a call to people to converge at Minar-e-Pakistan for a march towards Wagah border crossing. He was confident that over 10 million people would gather on his call. He noted that only a true representative of people could give a strong message to India. Shibli called for release of all political prisoners and quashing all ‘false cases’ against political opponents.

“We cannot take the threat of water from India as a political statement,” he said while referring to ‘suspension’ of the Indus Waters Treaty by the rival country. He regretted that Pakistan is facing internal and external problems, but maintained “we are united to defend our beloved homeland”.

Balochistan Awami Party parliamentary leader Manzoor Ahmad Kakar, in his speech, said the incident in held Kashmir with high military concentration, clearly exposed India.

Independent lawmaker Faisal Vawda said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should convene an APC with the PTI participation to discuss the Indian threats. However, he clarified that he was not saying that anyone should be pardoned, but “we are all united for Pakistan”. He warned that if threat of water was given, then Pakistan would attack first, and inflict thumping defeat on India.

Senator Poonjo Bheel, Jan Buledi, Anwarul Haq Kakar and Kamran Murtaza also took part in the discussion. The House will now meet again on Tuesday afternoon.

On the other hand, Indian and Pakistan soldiers exchanged gunfire at the Line of Control (LoC) for a fourth night in a row, New Delhi’s army said on Monday. There were no reported casualties, and Islamabad did not immediately confirm the gunfire from Pakistan.

“During the night of April 27-28... Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire across the Line of Control,” the Indian army said in a statement, referring to the de facto border in contested Kashmir. “Indian troops responded swiftly and effectively,” it added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister (PDM) and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, on Monday.

During their discussion, the DPM apprised Al-Thani of the recent deliberations and decisions taken by Pakistan’s National Security Committee in response to unsubstantiated allegations, inflammatory rhetoric, and unilateral measures by India.

The Qatari prime minister underscored the imperative of maintaining regional peace and stability, stressing the value of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving disputes between states.

The two leaders reaffirmed the enduring fraternal bonds between Pakistan and Qatar, agreeing to maintain close coordination and consultations on the evolving regional situation.

Meanwhile, US, China and Turkiye urged India and Pakistan to ‘exercise restraint’ on Kashmir. The US State Department said on Sunday Washington was in touch with both India and Pakistan while urging them to work towards what it called a “responsible solution”.

In public, the US government expressed support for India after the attack but did not criticise Pakistan. India blamed Pakistan for the April 22 attack in Indian-held Kashmir that killed over two dozen people. Pakistan denies responsibility and called for a neutral probe.

“This is an evolving situation and we are monitoring developments closely. We have been in touch with the governments of India and Pakistan at multiple levels,” a US State Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “The United States encourages all parties to work together towards a responsible resolution,” the spokesperson added.

The State Department spokesperson also said Washington “stands with India and strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Pahalgam,” reiterating comments similar to recent ones made by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

China, meanwhile, urged India and Pakistan to “exercise restraint” after New Delhi’s army said soldiers from the two countries exchanged gunfire in disputed Kashmir for a fourth night in a row. “China hopes that the two sides will exercise restraint, meet each other halfway, properly handle relevant differences through dialogue and consultation and jointly maintain regional peace and stability,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.

President Tayyip Erdogan also said on Monday Turkey wanted a de-escalation between Pakistan and India. Erdogan was speaking in Ankara following a cabinet meeting.