ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has strongly dismissed recent remarks by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which he accused Islamabad of orchestrating the Pahalgam attack and made assertions about development in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday, Pakistan denounced Modi’s comments as “baseless, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to divert international attention from India’s serious human rights abuses in the occupied territory.” The remarks followed Modi’s visit to IIOJK, where he claimed Pakistan had targeted tourists in Pahalgam in a bid to disrupt peace and economic activity in the region.
“It is deeply regrettable that the Indian Prime Minister has once again chosen to level unfounded allegations against Pakistan regarding the Pahalgam incident, without presenting any credible evidence,” the FO said. It added that such accusations were intended to distract from the “grave and persistent violations of human rights by Indian forces” in the disputed territory.
The FO emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally recognised disputed region, and its final status must be resolved in accordance with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
“Rhetoric cannot alter the legal and historical facts of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” the FO maintained.
Addressing Modi’s claims of development in IIOJK, the FO stated that they ring hollow in light of the ground reality. “The region remains under a heavy military lockdown, with fundamental freedoms suppressed, arbitrary arrests continuing, and systematic efforts underway to alter its demographic composition—clear violations of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.”
Pakistan reiterated its unwavering support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and called on the international community—particularly the United Nations and global human rights bodies—to hold India accountable for its actions.
Earlier, Modi alleged that the Pahalgam attack was part of a “conspiracy” by Pakistan to instigate unrest, harm the tourism sector, and undermine local livelihoods. He described the incident as an attack on “insaniyat and Kashmiriyat,” vowing that India would not bow to terrorism.
The FO, however, rejected this narrative, warning against the dangerous precedent of blaming Pakistan without proof and reaffirming that peace in the region can only be achieved through dialogue and respect for international norms.
