Pakistan says intelligence suggests Indian military action likely soon
Pakistan says intelligence suggests Indian military action likely soon
Pakistan said on Wednesday it has "credible intelligence" that India intends to launch military action soon, as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours escalate following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged the U.S. to press India to "dial down the rhetoric and act responsibly."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has asked both nations to "de-escalate tensions," a State Department spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.
In the April 22 attack, the Islamist assailants segregated men, asked their names and targeted Hindus before shooting them at close range in the Pahalgam area, killing 26 people, officials and survivors said.
India has identified the three attackers, including two Pakistani nationals, as "terrorists" waging a violent revolt in Muslim-majority Kashmir. Islamabad has denied any role and called for a neutral investigation.
Hindu-majority India accuses Islamic Pakistan of funding and encouraging militancy in Kashmir, a Himalayan territory claimed by both nations but ruled in part by them. Islamabad says it only provides moral and diplomatic support to a Kashmiri demand for self-determination.
