Pakistan’s defence minister said on Monday a military incursion by India was "imminent" following last week's deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir that killed 26 people.

Speaking to Reuters, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said Pakistan had reinforced its forces and taken strategic decisions in response to India’s growing rhetoric. He did not give further details.

India's foreign and defence ministries have not commented. New Delhi blamed Pakistan for backing the militants behind the attack, a charge Islamabad denies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to punish the perpetrators. Pakistan, meanwhile, said it would only use nuclear weapons if faced with a direct threat to its existence.

Asif said Pakistan had approached allies including Gulf states, China, Britain, and the U.S. to help de-escalate the situation. China urged restraint, while the U.S. said it was urging both sides to find a "responsible solution."

Tensions deepened after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines. Asif called the suspension of water rights an "act of war" and appealed to the World Bank and international community to uphold the treaty.

Relations between the two nuclear-armed nations remain fragile after decades of conflict over Kashmir, where both sides continue to trade accusations.

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