Modi authorizes Indian military action as Pakistan fears cross-border strikes following Kashmir attack. (pic:Udayavani)
New Delhi , India (EPICSTORIAN) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the military full autonomy to respond to strikes by Pakistani troops following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead.
The attack, claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), an extremist group tied to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has sparked a sharp rise in hostilities between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed states.
Indian military and Pakistani forces have reportedly exchanged fire daily along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir since the assault, raising fears of a larger conflict. According to The Times of India, Modi has authorized military leaders to independently determine the nature, timing, and targets of a retaliatory strike.
Pakistan Warns of Possible Imminent Indian Strike
As the situation deteriorates, Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting posted on X that Islamabad has “credible intelligence” of an impending Indian military operation within the next 24–36 hours. He alleged that India is using “baseless and concocted allegations” to justify aggression.
India, however, remains firm in its stance. “We will identify, track, and punish every terrorist, their handlers and their backers,” Modi declared on social media. “We will pursue them to the ends of the earth.”
Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif added that India has mobilized its forces, signaling that a military response is “now imminent.”
Escalating Reactions and Diplomatic Fallout
The April 22 attack, which occurred in the tourist hub of Pahalgam, was the deadliest assault on Indian soil since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Officials claim the TRF militants responsible for the killings were supported by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Islamabad has denied any involvement.
Security experts say Modi’s approach aligns with India’s past responses to terrorism. “A targeted air or surgical strike is likely,” said Chietigj Bajpaee, a South Asia expert at Chatham House. He stressed that India will aim to avoid escalation beyond the nuclear threshold, though accidental escalation remains a risk.
Sadanand Dhume, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said public anger in India is mounting. “Modi is under pressure to act decisively. The Indian public demands a strong response.”
Water Treaty Suspended, Pakistan Calls It ‘Act of War’
In addition to military preparations, India has suspended the 1960 Indus Water Treaty—a key agreement that regulates river sharing between the two countries. Pakistan’s Minister of State for Law and Justice said Islamabad intends to challenge the decision through the World Bank, labeling the act as a provocation bordering on war.
Protests erupted across Pakistan, including in Lahore, where demonstrators condemned India’s suspension of the water-sharing deal.
A History of Conflict and Nuclear Risks
India and Pakistan’s rivalry stems from the 1947 partition of British India. Kashmir, the focal point of decades-long tensions, has witnessed three wars between the two nations since the partition.
Also Read: India Orders Pakistani Nationals to Leave the Country by April 29 After Kashmir Attack
Though the region initially chose to join India under certain conditions, Pakistan has continuously contested its control.
Both countries possess nuclear arsenals, with an estimated combined stockpile of 342 warheads, making any conflict particularly perilous for regional and global stability.
