India-Pakistan tensions have reignited as regional authorities in PoK closed more than 1,000 madrasas for at least 10 days, fearing a Balakot-style strike by India. Authorities confirmed Friday’s closure over a perceived Indian attack threat.
The action comes after growing suspicion that India was planning to retaliate against Tuesday’s April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack that murdered 26 civilians. India long claimed these PoK religious seminaries exist as terrorism nurseries.
Fear of Balakot-Like Action Revives
The shutdown of madrasas has led to widespread speculation. Locals are afraid that India could carry out another Balakot-style attack. Indian Air Force fighter jets in 2019 had launched an attack on a suspected terror camp in Balakot, deep within Pakistan‘s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Officials think the same operations may be launched again, particularly close to the Line of Control (LoC).
As per a local PoK official, “More than 1,000 madrasas in Kashmir have been closed for 10 days as per government instructions.” Holidays have been declared for students by the authorities, and military preparedness on both sides is high.
Airspace and Flights Under Tight Scrutiny
Pakistan also suspended local flights to Gilgit and Skardu, major towns in the northern region. This was attributed to national airspace safety procedures. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has now started monitoring all foreign flights, especially those crossing over from India. All other flights to Pakistan’s northern regions have been temporarily suspended.
New Delhi has repeatedly blamed Islamabad for utilizing madrasas to offer shelter to anti-India terror outfits. These allegations have gained fresh momentum following the Pahalgam massacre. India insists that the Pahalgam attack received support from Pakistani soil, and some believe the same may prompt a re-examination of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which is suspended as it is.
Pakistan threatened India with a “swift, resolute, and decisive” military response. Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Director General of ISPR, stated, “If India initiates the war and attacks Pakistan, it will be its choice… How we will react to it, will be our choice.” The quote implies a strong retaliation plan in case India makes aggressive moves.
Military Readiness Escalates Near Borders
Pakistan’s military has intensified full-scale exercises near the LoC and Working Boundary. The drills are to prove preparedness to meet any Indian aggression. Tanks, troops, and aerial assets are in open movement.
This is one of the few instances when Pakistan has explicitly linked the shutdown of religious institutions to apprehension about foreign military intervention. The decision indicates not just increased threat perception but also a readiness to take pre-emptive action in civilian areas.
