Pakistan Defense Minister: "India May Launch Attack Within 2-3 Days"

by Lee Seunghyeong

Published 29 Apr.2025 14:24(KST)

"Immediate Threat... China, Saudi Arabia, and Others Striving to Prevent Outbreak of Conflict"

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following a shooting attack in the disputed Indian-administered Kashmir region, prompting Pakistan's Defense Minister to voice concerns over the possibility of an Indian military incursion.

On the 28th (local time), Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated in an interview with local Geo News, "If anything is going to happen, it will happen within the next two to three days," adding, "There is an immediate threat at this moment."

On the 28th (local time), residents in Chaman, Pakistan, protested by burning the Indian flag in response to India's declaration of suspension of the 'Indus River Treaty'. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

However, Minister Asif said that war could be avoided, explaining that China, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf countries are making efforts to prevent the outbreak of conflict.

In an interview with Reuters, Minister Asif also said, "The situation is now imminent, so we have increased our troop strength," revealing that the Pakistani military has reported to the government the possibility of an Indian attack. He added that the Pakistani military is maintaining a high state of alert and that nuclear weapons would only be used "if there is a direct threat to our existence."

Amid these developments, India's Ministry of Defense announced that it had signed a contract to purchase 26 Rafale fighter jets from France for 630 billion rupees (approximately 10.63 trillion won). The newly acquired Rafale jets?22 single-seat and 4 two-seat aircraft?are manufactured by France's Dassault Aviation. These Rafale fighters are scheduled to be deployed on India's domestically built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, replacing the Russian-made MiG-29K jets currently in use.

On the 22nd, a shooting attack targeting tourists and others occurred near the resort area of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, resulting in 26 deaths and 17 injuries, pushing India-Pakistan relations to the brink. India accused Pakistan of being behind the incident and responded by suspending the 'Indus River Treaty'?which had previously ensured that India would not obstruct the flow of the Indus River to Pakistan?and by canceling visas for Pakistanis in India, among other sanctions.

Pakistan denied involvement in the attack and retaliated by banning Indian aircraft from its airspace, suspending trade, and canceling visas for Indian nationals. Since then, small-scale skirmishes have continued along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between the two countries. In response, the United Nations, along with the United States, China, and others, have contacted both sides, urging restraint.