Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, has accused India of orchestrating a recent attack on the Pakistani High Commission in London, attributing the incident to India’s “extremist ideology” and alleging state sponsorship. The attack, which occurred on April 26, involved a group of Indian protesters throwing saffron-colored paint on the building’s exterior and smashing windows. Two individuals were arrested by London’s Metropolitan Police in connection with the incident.
Minister Tarar emphasized that the perpetrators were allegedly sponsored by Indian agencies, highlighting the incident as a manifestation of the mindset cultivated by the Indian state. He also pointed to the swift registration of a First Information Report (FIR) in Pahalgam, India, following a deadly attack on April 22 that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Tarar questioned the credibility of India’s accusations against Pakistan, suggesting that the rapid response and immediate blame placed on Pakistan lacked substantiated evidence.
The Pahalgam attack, claimed by the previously unknown group The Resistance Front (TRF), has exacerbated tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations. In retaliation, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and imposed travel restrictions on Pakistani nationals, while Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian flights and suspended the Simla Agreement.
Minister Tarar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to a transparent and impartial investigation into the Pahalgam incident, asserting that Pakistan has no involvement in terrorism and condemns all forms of such activities. He also accused India of state-sponsored terrorism within Pakistan, citing the case of Indian spy Kulbushan Jadhav as evidence of India’s involvement in destabilizing activities.
The diplomatic crisis has led to heightened security concerns. On April 27, Pakistani security forces killed 54 militants attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan into North Waziristan. The military identified the attackers as members of the Pakistani Taliban, known as “Khwarij,” and claimed they were backed by foreign entities aiming to conduct high-profile attacks within Pakistan. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the operation as a significant success in preempting terrorist attacks. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also commended the security forces.
The situation remains tense, with both nations accusing each other of supporting terrorism. Pakistan continues to call for a neutral and transparent investigation into the Pahalgam attack, while India maintains its allegations against Pakistan. The international community watches closely as the two countries navigate this complex and volatile diplomatic crisis.
