Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar strongly dismissed India’s claims that Pakistan was involved in the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, calling the allegations baseless and politically motivated. “Pakistan has nothing to do with the Pahalgam attack—period,” Dar said during a fiery press conference on Wednesday, adding that any investigation must be conducted under “mutually agreed terms.”
Dar emphasized that Pakistan neither benefits from nor has any connection to the incident, which killed 26 people, including Indian and Nepalese nationals. He questioned the timing of the accusations, suggesting that India is trying to deflect attention as Pakistan’s economy begins to stabilize.
He accused India of using the tragedy to push a broader political agenda—specifically, to derail the Indus Waters Treaty. “Pakistan is an agricultural country. Millions depend on water from rivers we agreed to share. Any attempt to tamper with that will be seen as an act of war,” Dar warned. He stressed that unilateral actions on water flows threaten the lives of 240 million Pakistanis and violate international law.
Dar also cautioned that these rising tensions, if left unchecked, could lead to serious instability in the region. He rejected India’s “irresponsible behavior” and said such actions are meant to provoke a military response, while reaffirming that Pakistan would only retaliate if provoked.
Adding to the press conference, Pakistan military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry (DG ISPR) provided evidence to challenge India’s narrative. He showed videos, social media posts, and witness testimonies pointing to a possible “false flag” operation by Indian forces. One clip included a Kashmiri villager questioning why security forces were absent during the attack, while another showed a former Indian intelligence officer admitting that similar attacks had been staged in the past to blame Pakistan.
Lt. Gen. Chaudhry also revealed that over 3,700 terrorist attacks have occurred in Pakistan since January 2024, resulting in more than 1,300 deaths. He attributed many of these attacks to Indian-backed proxies and intelligence efforts aimed at destabilising Pakistan.
The situation has escalated quickly. India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, and Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian flights. Pakistan’s Information Minister warned of a potential Indian military strike within 24 to 36 hours.
Despite the rising tensions, Foreign Minister Dar reaffirmed that Pakistan does not seek conflict. “We won’t initiate hostilities,” he said. “But if provoked, we will respond with full force.”
