Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has affirmed that Pakistan will exercise its right to self-defence in response to Indian aggression, following reports of Indian airstrikes targeting civilian areas within Pakistan.
In an interview with Sky News, Tarar firmly rejected Indian allegations linking Pakistan to the recent Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
“Pakistan is actively combating terrorism, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack,” he said. “The location in question—Pahalgam—is situated 200 kilometres from the Line of Control.”
He highlighted that a First Information Report (FIR) for the incident was filed within ten minutes, and local police reached the scene about an hour and a half later. “When the police arrived, the victims were still bleeding,” Tarar stated, emphasizing that India has provided no credible evidence implicating Pakistan.
“Despite lacking any substantiating proof, India chose to target civilians, including women and children, without justification,” the minister added.
Tarar also noted that Pakistan had proposed a joint investigation and even invited the United Kingdom to participate. “Our prime minister offered to investigate the matter. So why did India back away?” he questioned.
He further accused India’s ruling BJP of exploiting the situation for political motives. “We informed the global community that the facts would emerge through an investigation. But the BJP, known for its hostility toward Muslims and Sikhs, used this as a pretext to strike Pakistan—without evidence.”
Reasserting Pakistan’s stance, Tarar concluded, “The people of Pakistan remain resilient, and our response to Indian aggression is already underway.”
