Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the headquarters of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on Tuesday, receiving a detailed briefing on the country’s security position in the midst of increased tensions with India.
Accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and the heads of Pakistan’s armed forces, the prime minister was informed of the prevailing regional security environment.
“The briefing focused on readiness against conventional threats in the light of India’s increasingly assertive attitude along the eastern border,” said a statement from the PM office (PMO).
The statement read that management was also informed of the evolving threat matrix, including conventional military opportunities, hybrid warning and the use of proxies.
The delegation emphasized the importance of improved national vigilance, coordination between agencies and operational emergency preparedness to respond to threats to Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed appreciation of ISI’s role in national security and praised professionalism from the armed forces and confirmed the state’s obligation to defend the country against all forms of threats.
Tensions between Pakistan and India reached new heights after a deadly attack on April 22, when 26 men were killed at a tourist site in Pahaldam, in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India quickly accused Pakistan of the attack, but no evidence was presented to support the claim that Islamabad severely denied.
In response to the attack, India’s Cabinet Committee for security approved several retaliatory measures, including the closure of the Wagah-Attari Land Transit Point, a travel guidance calling on Indian citizens to avoid Pakistani, a formal review of the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and the revocation of several categories of Visa for Pakistani National.
On April 24, Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) issued a strict warning and declared that any attempt from India to block the water flow in Pakistan would be considered an act of war. NSC also approved the closure of the Wagah boundary transition.
