Pakistan FM says India 'planning military aggression' in mid-April

Pakistan FM says India 'planning military aggression' in mid-April
Pakistan's foreign minister has said his country has 'credible intelligence' on an alleged Indian plan to launch a military attack on Pakistan.
2 min read
07 April, 2019
Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan has 'reliable intelligence' on the matter [AFP]

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Sunday claimed his government had reliable intelligence that India was planning to carry out aggression against Pakistan between April 16 and 20.

The fresh claims come amid continued strained relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who came close to all out conflict after a Pakistan-based militant in February killed 40 Indian security personnel in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The crisis escalated when India launched a cross-border air raid on Pakistan that kicked off a quick succession of attacks and dogfights between the arch-rivals over the disputed Kashmir frontier.

Talking to reporters in the southern city of Multan, Qureshi said the ambassadors of the permanent members of the UN Security Council in Islamabad had been informed about "the plan" two days ago.

"We have reliable intelligence that India has made a new scheme and the planning is underway and there are chances of another aggression against Pakistan and according to our information this action can take place between April 16 and 20," he said.

"I am saying it with responsibility and I have a responsible position, I know each word I say would make headlines in the international press," he said, stressing the reliability of his claim.

He said the planned aggression was aimed at "increasing diplomatic pressure against Pakistan".

Pakistani and Indian soldiers have continued to fire over the Line of Control - the de-facto border dividing Kashmir, killing several civilians on both sides.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947.

Both claim the Himalayan territory in full and have fought two wars over it.