• Defense Minister says the Army informed the Government about the possible conflict with India, the next ‘crucial’ days
• Beijing, Washington, Ankara and Doha urge the measures to calm the tensions as the neighbors exchange fire through the control line
Islamabad: As friends in foreign capitals continue to advocate a reduction in tensions in southern Asia, Pakistan’s minister said that the country was ready for any incursion by India.
The two neighbors have been exchanging fire through the control line (LOC) for four days, and each blamed the other for provocation.
“We have reinforced our forces because it is something that is imminent now. So, in that situation, some strategic decisions must be made, so those decisions have been made,” Khawaja Asif said. Reuters Mondays.
He said that the military had informed the Government about the possibility of an Indian attack, but did not enter more details about their reasons to think that an incursion was imminent.
Their comments follow the increasingly aggressive position in New Delhi after an attack in a back -controlled tourist complex controlled by India, which charged more than two dozen lives.
Immediately after Pahalgam’s attack, India said that two of the suspects were Pakistan, although without evidence. Islamabad has flatly denied any role and requested a neutral investigation.
In the interview, Mr. Asif said that Pakistan was on a maximum alert and that he would only use his arsenal of nuclear weapons if “there is a direct threat to our existence.”
Later, in an interview with TV SamaaHe said: “We should be mentally prepared, there is a war that is coming on the horizon.”
The channel also cited it by saying that there was a “vivid possibility” that “we can have the war in the next day or two or three (sic).”
However, then he had to clarify these comments, saying Geographical news: “They (the channel) asked me what are the possibilities of war, so I said that the next two or three days were crucial.”
“If something has to happen, then it will happen in the next two or four days … otherwise, the immediate danger will happen.”
Mr. Asif also clarified that his statement should not be misunderstood as a categorical prediction that the war would begin in the next two or three days, reiterating that he had only said that the “next few days would be crucial.”
He reiterated that he had said that there was a danger that the war would explode in the next few days, but it could also be avoided, since other countries in the region were working to avoid any contentious situation and unwishly the matter.
He said that Islamabad had approached friendly countries, including the states of the Gulf and China, and also informed Great Britain, the United States and others about the situation.
“Some of our friends in the Arabic Gulf have spoken with both parties,” said Asif, without naming countries.
During the past week, China’s leaders and officials, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Kingdom have been in contact with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Vice President Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. All of them have urged a reduction in tensions.
Descaled
Meanwhile, on Monday, Beijing, Washington, Ankara and Doha also expressed hope that India and Pakistan exercise restrictions and welcomed all the measures that will help cool the situation.
“China expects the two parties to exercise restriction, they meet halfway, properly manage relevant differences through dialogue and consultation and jointly maintain regional peace and stability,” said the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guo Jiakun.
“China welcomes all measures that will help cool the situation.” AFP He cited Jiakun as a regular press information session.
Beijing’s restriction call was added to the United States statement since Sunday, urging India and Pakistan to work towards what he called a “responsible solution”, since Washington said he was in contact with both countries.
“This is an evolving situation and we are closely monitoring the developments. We have been in contact with the governments of India and Pakistan at multiple levels,” said a spokesman for the United States Department of the United States to Reuters in a statement sent by email.
“The United States encourages all parties to work together for a responsible resolution,” added the spokesman.
In public, the United States government has expressed its support for India after the attack, but has not criticized Pakistan, while President Trump said last week that he was confident that both countries “resurrect it.”
Speaking after a cabinet meeting on Monday, Turkiye’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said his country also wants a decalcalation between Pakistan and India, Reuters reported.
Separately, speaking with Mr. Dar, who also has the Foreign Affairs portfolio, Qatar Prime Minister emphasized the importance of resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.
Dar spoke with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani as part of Pakistan’s diplomatic dissemination to inform the allies about what Islamabad describes as the “accusations without foundation of India, inflammatory rhetoric and unilateral measures,” according to a foreign office statement.
During the conversation, Al-Thani stressed the imperative to maintain regional peace and stability, highlighting the value of diplomatic participation to address disputes between countries.
Both leaders reaffirmed the strong bilateral ties between Pakistan and Qatar and agreed to maintain close coordination and consultations on the regional situation in evolution.
Baqir Sajad Syed in Islamabad also contributed to this report
Posted in Dawn, April 29, 2025
