Tensions between India and Pakistan have reached alarming levels after Pakistan's Defense Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, declared that an Indian military incursion into Pakistani territory was "imminent." In an interview with Reuters, Asif said Pakistani forces have been significantly reinforced in Kashmir to deal with any possible attack.
The crisis began after a bloody attack on April 22 in the Indian region of Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists from India. India blames Pakistan-linked militants for the attack, while a group known as The Resistance Front initially claimed responsibility but later retracted.
In response, India has taken a series of drastic measures: it has launched military exercises, tested long-range missiles and suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, which guarantees water supply for about 80% of Pakistan's agriculture. Indian Minister of Water Resources, Chandrakant Raghunath Paatil, declared that India will ensure that "not a drop of water from the Indus River reaches Pakistan," writes A2 CNN.
Pakistan, on the other hand, has closed its airspace to Indian flights, suspended visas for Indian citizens and deployed armored units on the border. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned that any attempt to stop the water flow to Pakistan would be considered an "act of war" and would receive a full response.
The cross-border firing has continued for four days, with Indian forces arresting around 500 people in operations to search for militants. Raids on Muslim homes have raised concerns about abuses against innocent civilians.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to punish any terrorists and their supporters, also suspending visa services for Pakistanis and demanding the return of Indian citizens from Pakistan.
Meanwhile, China has called for restraint and expressed its willingness to support any efforts to reduce tensions in the region.
A full-scale conflict between these two nuclear powers would be catastrophic for the region and beyond. (A2 Televizion)
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