Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday strongly refuted India’s allegations linking Pakistan to the recent deadly attack in Pahalgam, occupied Kashmir, and challenged New Delhi to produce concrete evidence.
Addressing the media after a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting, Dar stated, “India has a pattern of leveling baseless accusations. If there is any evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in the Pahalgam incident, they should share it with us and the international community.”
The Pahalgam attack, which occurred in a popular tourist destination in Indian-occupied Kashmir, claimed the lives of at least 26 civilians — mostly Indian nationals, with one from Nepal — and injured 17 others. Indian media attributed the assault to a previously unknown group, ‘The Resistance Front’.
Following the attack, India swiftly escalated tensions by downgrading diplomatic ties, closing borders, and unilaterally announcing the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), citing unverified “cross-border linkages.”
Pakistan Responds to Indian Accusations
Flanked by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Attorney General Mansoor Awan, FM Dar detailed Pakistan’s response. He said intelligence reports noted the presence of foreign nationals in Srinagar allegedly supported by Indian intelligence and involved in the transport of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
“Our armed forces are fully prepared. If anyone attempts aggression, the consequences will be more severe than in the past,” Dar warned.
Khawaja Asif emphasized that while India had not officially blamed Pakistan, its media and political circles had made direct insinuations.
“Let’s not forget, Prime Minister Modi was once denied a U.S. visa due to terrorism concerns. We reject terrorism in all forms and condemn this attack unequivocally — whether in India or elsewhere,” said Asif, adding that Pakistan itself is a major victim of terrorism.
He accused India of sheltering and supporting terrorist outfits such as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), whose leaders he claimed receive medical treatment in India. “These are not assumptions, they are verifiable facts,” Asif asserted.
He also pointed to a pattern of Indian-sponsored terrorism, including the arrest of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav in 2016. “India is already waging a low-intensity proxy war against Pakistan.”
Firm Legal and Diplomatic Stance
Attorney General Mansoor Awan clarified that the IWT cannot be unilaterally suspended. “Termination of the treaty would require mutual agreement,” he said. “Pakistan reserves its legal rights and will challenge India’s moves at appropriate international forums.”
Dar added that the Indian statement omitting the IWT from the formal demarche suggested legal ambiguity. Pakistan would be summoning Indian officials to issue a counter-demarche and has postponed Dar’s diplomatic visits to Bangladesh and Kabul to focus on the matter.
Responding to questions about next steps, Dar said Pakistan would reciprocate any Indian measures in kind: “This will be tit-for-tat. If they escalate, we will respond proportionately. If India cuts off water supply, that would be considered an act of war.”
On the possibility of support from allies like China, Dar stated, “We are in communication with our partners, but we are not dependent on anyone. Pakistan is fully prepared, militarily and diplomatically.”
Law Minister Tarar reiterated that the IWT has no provision for suspension and warned India against scapegoating Pakistan for its own security failures. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar called India’s reaction “immature,” saying, “This is political theater. The world knows India uses terrorism narratives for domestic gain.”
Gandapur Condemns Attack, Warns of Retaliation
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, during a provincial cabinet meeting, also condemned the Pahalgam incident and expressed sorrow for the victims. He criticized India’s aggressive response, accusing it of exploiting the tragedy for political purposes and deflecting attention from internal failures.
“Any Indian aggression will be met with full force,” Gandapur declared. “Pakistan’s unity and resolve are unwavering. We are prepared to defend every inch of our land.”
He warned that India’s hostile posture threatens regional stability and peace, reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to sovereignty and self-defense.
