News - World: A senior Pakistani official has warned about an imminent Indian military strike, and asserted that Islamabad was fully prepared to respond with decisive force if attacked, echoing earlier remarks by other authorities.

Faisal Kundi, a close advisor to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stated in an exclusive interview with the Al Jazeera Mubasher live news channel on Wednesday that Pakistan possessed credible intelligence indicating that an Indian attack could occur within hours or days.

"Our weapons are not for display in museums, but for the defense of the country," he said, pointing to Pakistan's readiness to defend its sovereignty if needed.

Tensions between the neighbors have escalated following a deadly terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, predominantly Hindu tourists.

Pakistan has denied any involvement and has called for an impartial international investigation.​

Kundi likewise dismissed allegations linking Pakistan to the attack as baseless, saying there were no concrete evidence to support such claims.

Since the attack, India has taken several measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, a decades-old agreement governing water sharing between the countries.

Pakistan has condemned these actions, viewing them as provocative and detrimental to regional stability, besides taking retaliatory measures of its own, including closing its airspace to Indian flights.

Premier Sharif has, meanwhile, told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, about, what he has called, India's "provocative and escalatory stance," and urged the international community to intervene and prevent further deterioration of the situation.​

The United Nations and various international organizations have expressed alarm over the rising tensions and have called for restraint and dialogue as the potential for miscalculation or unintended escalation has raised fears of a broader conflict in the region.​

Source: Press TV