A senior Pakistani journalist has asserted that India is likely to carry out a military strike against Pakistan following the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL), echoing a statement by Pakistan’s Information Minister, who revealed that the country has “credible intelligence” indicating that India intends to launch such an attack within the next 24 to 36 hours.
His statement follows New Delhi’s recent accusation that Islamabad was involved in supporting the perpetrators of a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists. Pakistan has categorically denied the allegations.
Amid rising tensions, veteran Pakistani journalist Muhammad Malick suggested that while a military response from India is highly probable, it is unlikely to occur before the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament, scheduled to end on May 25.
Citing discussions with senior Indian sources, Malick remarked, “According to influential contacts in India, a retaliatory strike is certain—but not before May 25. The IPL is a multi-billion rupee enterprise, and its completion is reportedly a priority.”
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Since the Pahalgam attack, sporadic exchanges of small-arms fire have taken place across the Line of Control (LoC), intensifying concerns about a potential escalation. Analysts have drawn comparisons with previous incidents, such as India’s military responses following major militant attacks in 2016 and 2019.
The region of Kashmir, which both India and Pakistan claim in its entirety but govern in parts, remains one of the most volatile and enduring sources of conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors since their partition in 1947.
