Pakistan has claimed it has credible intelligence that India is preparing to launch a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours as tensions soar between the two nuclear neighbours.
Pakistan's federal minister for information and broadcasting Attaullah Tarar made the announcement during a hastily arranged late-night press conference on Tuesday.
"Pakistan has credible intelligence that India intends to launch a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours using the Pahalgam incident as a false pretext," Tarar said.
He issued a stern warning that any aggression would be met with decisive action.
"Any act of aggression will be met with a decisive response. India will be fully responsible for any serious consequences in the region," he added.
The statement has further heightened fears of military confrontation between the nuclear-armed rivals.
A military presence has built up in Kashmir
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The Pahalgam incident on April 22 left at least 26 tourists dead in Indian-administered Kashmir, marking the worst attack on civilians in the country for nearly two decades.
No group has credibly claimed responsibility for the attack.
India has blamed Pakistan for the incident, accusing its neighbour of backing cross-border terrorism.
In response, India suspended its participation in the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty "until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism".
Pakistan has denied any involvement in the attack and called for a neutral investigation.
The water treaty dispute has further inflamed tensions, with Pakistan warning that any attempt to stop or divert water flow under the agreement would be considered an act of war.
The incident has triggered a major crisis between the two countries, with diplomatic relations between Delhi and Islamabad deteriorating rapidly.
The incident took place in Sharhama village in the disputed Indian region of North Kashmir's Handwara GettyTarar's statement came hours after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and top military brass in New Delhi.
Modi reportedly gave the armed forces "complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing" of India's response.
Throughout the day, both India and Pakistan engaged in heavy diplomatic outreach.
Both nations held private briefings for foreign envoys, spoke with world leaders and issued public statements targeting global audiences.
The diplomatic efforts reflect the gravity of the situation as both nuclear powers attempt to garner international support for their positions.
Military preparations appear to be underway on both sides of the border as the deadline mentioned in Pakistan's warning approaches.
Tensions in the region have reached levels not seen in years, prompting concern from international observers.
India blamed Pakistan for the Kashmir attack
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The alleged terror attack resulted in huge levels of damage
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United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has spoken with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in an effort to defuse the crisis.
Guterres "expressed his deep concern at rising tensions between India and Pakistan, and underscored the need to avoid a confrontation that could result in tragic consequences", according to his spokesman Stephane Dujarric>
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning urgent diplomatic intervention.
"We are reaching out to both parties and telling, of course, them to not escalate the situation," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters.
"The Secretary expects to speak with the foreign ministers of Pakistan and India as early as today or tomorrow," she added.
Bruce said Rubio is also "encouraging other national leaders, other foreign ministers, to also reach out to the countries on this issue".
The international community appears increasingly concerned about the potential for military confrontation between the nuclear powers.
A heavy exchange of fire between the border guards of India and Pakistan has been reported along the Line of Control for a sixth straight night.
The 460-mile de facto border separates Indian and Pakistani-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan claims it has downed a drone amid growing fears of escalation.
"It's a highly precarious moment in the region," said Michael Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington DC.
Kugelman warned that India appears to believe past responses have failed to restore deterrence.
"This time, there appears to be a desire that it needs to be restored once and for all. Such a view, if applied, would carry escalation risks," he added.
Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir have closed 48 out of 87 government-approved tourist destinations.
Panic-stricken tourists are reportedly seeking early exits from the region.
Indian authorities have also alleged that Pakistani hackers launched a cyberattack on various websites of the Indian armed forces.
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