Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accused India of “provocations“ and “seeking escalation“ during a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The conversation took place against the backdrop of rising tensions between the two nuclear powers following a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir last week, Agence France-Presse reported, BTA reports.
Sharif condemned Delhi's “provocative and escalating behavior“, according to an official statement issued by the government in Islamabad. Meanwhile, the US State Department said Rubio would contact the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan to urge restraint and avoid further escalation.
Earlier in the day, Islamabad said it expected a military strike by India within two days. "Pakistan will not strike first, but will not hesitate to respond with force," Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar warned, after Pakistani officials reported that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had authorized his army to prepare a "retaliatory operation."
At the same time, the head of the administration of Pakistani Kashmir, Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, called for international mediation and announced that humanitarian measures were being prepared in the event of a military escalation.
Tensions between the two neighboring countries continue to rise despite international efforts to de-escalate. The reason is the attack more than a week ago in the tourist area of Pahlagam, in the Indian part of Kashmir, which killed 26 people.
Delhi blamed Pakistan for the attack, but Islamabad categorically denied any responsibility.