Morning Brief: India Planning To Strike Within 24 To 36 Hours, Pakistan Says In 2 AM Press Conference; Rawalpindi Moves Forces Forward Amid Fears Of Imminent Indian Attack; And More

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India Planning To Strike Within 24 To 36 Hours, Pakistan Says

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar issued a warning late Tuesday (30 April) night, claiming his country had "credible intelligence" that suggested India was preparing for a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, which New Delhi has linked to Islamabad.

His statement came hours after India granted its military operational freedom to act, signalling the seriousness with which it views the attack that killed several civilians. Tarar accused India of manufacturing allegations and rejected what he called India’s “hubristic” regional behaviour, but his emphasis on an imminent strike indicates that Pakistan is taking the possibility of Indian retaliation seriously.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had earlier revealed that strategic decisions had already been made and forces reinforced in anticipation of an Indian move—comments he later tried to walk back. But taken together, the warnings suggest that Pakistan is bracing for a limited Indian military response, and is now attempting to shift blame while building a narrative of victimhood.

Pakistan Moves Forces Forward Amid Fears of Imminent Indian Attack

Pakistan has begun large-scale military deployments anticipating a possible Indian strike, The Economic Times has said in a report.

1) Pakistan has moved key air defence systems, electronic warfare units, and additional troops to forward areas near the Indian border, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warning of an “imminent” Indian military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

2) Reinforcements have been observed in the Sialkot and Lahore sectors, where new radar systems have been deployed to track Indian aerial activity, and electronic warfare assets are now active near Ferozepur.

3) Significant troop movements have taken place in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including the 6th Armoured Division and 7th Infantry Division, along with artillery and multi-barrel rocket launchers like the Chinese-origin A-100 and KRL-122 systems.

4) Indian agencies believe these movements suggest Pakistan is preparing for long-range precision strikes targeting terror group infrastructure based in PoK.

5) The Pakistan Air Force has been on high alert for several days, with increased flying activity and reinforcements of F-16s and JF-17s at Nur Khan base in Rawalpindi and Skardu airbase.

6) Pakistan’s XII Corps has also ordered elements from the 33rd and 41st Infantry Divisions from Balochistan to move towards the Indian border, signalling a broad-based military build-up.

Other Developments

Cabinet Committee On Security To Meet Today

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is set to meet today ( 30 April) to discuss India's response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack. The meeting comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted the armed forces complete operational freedom to decide on the timing and nature of the country's response. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval are expected to attend the meeting.

Earlier actions taken by the government, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and downgrading diplomatic relations with Pakistan, are expected to be part of the discussions. The CCS meeting is the second one since the deadly attack that killed 26 people in Pahalgam, escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

The CCS is the highest body for decisions on matters related to defence and national security and is headed by the Prime Minister.

The Supreme Court has stated that using spyware for national security purposes is not inherently wrong, but the issue of whether it was misused to spy on private individuals would be examined. The court made these remarks during the hearing of petitions seeking an independent investigation into the alleged unauthorised use of Pegasus spyware by the Indian government.

The court stressed that the country's security cannot be compromised, adding that using spyware against adversarial elements is justified in the current security context. The bench also expressed willingness to consider requests from individuals who want to know whether their devices had been compromised.

Telangana, Tamil Nadu Clock Highest Growth In Exports In FY25

Telangana and Tamil Nadu recorded the highest growth in merchandise exports in FY25, with a surge of 36 per cent and 20 per cent respectively, outpacing other Indian states. This rise comes as Southern states emerge as new export powerhouses amid a national push to diversify beyond petroleum and gems & jewellery products.

While Gujarat and Maharashtra remain the top two exporters, both posted year-on-year declines—13 per cent for Gujarat and 2 per cent for Maharashtra—indicating a shift in export momentum. Tamil Nadu’s export strength lies in sectors like engineering goods, electronics, and textiles, while Telangana has seen rapid gains driven by a broader industrial base. 

India-US Trade Talks Show Progress

It seems the US-India trade talks are progressing positively. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said that the US has finalised a deal with one country to ease upcoming reciprocal tariffs but is waiting for that country’s prime minister and parliament to approve it.

While he did not name the country, President Trump hinted it could be India, stating, “India is coming along great. I think we'll have a deal with India.” The remarks suggest that a breakthrough with New Delhi may be imminent, potentially marking a significant step toward resolving longstanding trade tensions.

From The States

Karnataka: Bengaluru Civic Body Split Delays Municipal Elections

The Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, which received the Governor's assent last week, will further delay municipal elections in Bengaluru, with polls unlikely before late 2025 or early 2026. The Act proposes splitting the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into up to seven smaller corporations, with a deadline set for August to finalize the boundaries.

The opposition parties, including the BJP and JD(S), have raised concerns about uneven growth and the impact on Kannada influence due to the restructuring. Despite this, Bengaluru Development Minister D K Shivakumar argues that the restructuring is necessary to address the city's haphazard growth and manage its rapidly increasing population.

Haryana: Congress Makes Third Attempt At Fixing State Unit

The Haryana Congress is attempting to strengthen its organisation after its defeat in the state elections six months ago. This marks the third attempt within this period to restructure the party’s grassroots base. Despite initial setbacks and factional infighting, including disputes over appointments and revisions to leadership lists, the party is hoping this will finally stabilise its structure. However, divisions between key leaders, such as Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kumari Selja, continue to complicate the process.

UP: Rahul Gandhi On Two-Day Visit To Raebareli, Amethi

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP, is on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Raebareli and nearby Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. This trip marks his first visit to Amethi, his former constituency, since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the party won it back from the BJP.

Gandhi's visit coincides with an ongoing overhaul of the UP Congress unit, which is working to balance caste representation and the integration of new faces in preparation for the 2027 Assembly elections. The Samajwadi Party has already confirmed that it will contest the 2027 elections in UP in alliance with the Congress.

You’re all caught up—until next time.