Pakistan’s defense minister declared the country’s innocence regarding a recent terror attack that resulted in 26 fatalities in the disputed Kashmir region controlled by India, emphasizing the need for an international investigation.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated that Pakistan is “ready to cooperate” with any international inquiry into the incident. His comments seem aimed at easing tensions with India following an armed attack on a tourist group near Pahalgam, marking one of the deadliest terror incidents in Indian-administered Kashmir in recent years.
In response to the attack, India has taken swift actions against Pakistan, including closing border crossings and suspending a vital water treaty. Indian officials suspect that at least two Pakistani nationals were involved in the attack.
Asif accused India of using the attack's aftermath as a justification for suspending the water treaty and for domestic political gains, claiming that punitive measures against Pakistan were being taken “without any proof, without any investigation.”
Pakistani officials have sought mediation from the U.S. government regarding the dispute, with Asif expressing concerns about the potential for escalating conflict in the region.
The last significant militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir occurred in 2019, leading to Indian airstrikes on Pakistan. U.S. officials have not yet attributed this week’s attack to any specific group, although a lesser-known group called the Resistance Front has reportedly claimed responsibility.
Western officials are concerned that rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations could spiral out of control, particularly after India’s Vice President visited the country and the administration expressed support for India.
Both nations have taken measures against each other’s diplomats, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowing to punish “every terrorist and their backers.”
Indian officials allege that the group claiming responsibility for the attack is linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. However, Asif contended that Lashkar-e-Taiba is “defunct” and lacks the capability to conduct attacks from Pakistan.
Asif speculated that local separatist groups in Kashmir may have executed the attack, asserting that Pakistan does not support separatist movements in India, although some Pakistani officials have indicated otherwise regarding Kashmir. The army chief of Pakistan referred to Kashmir as the country’s “jugular vein,” pledging support for the Kashmiri struggle against Indian control.
Asif suggested, without evidence, that the attack might have been a “false flag” operation by the Indian government to incite a crisis, asserting that Pakistan had no motive for attacking civilians.
He expressed concerns about the implications of India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, which has been a stabilizing factor in the region since its signing in 1960. Asif claimed that India has been seeking to undermine the treaty for years and found a pretext to do so following the recent attack.
Asif, who has previously held the position of Pakistan’s minister for water supplies, criticized India for creating issues regarding the treaty and stated that the current situation represents a significant threat to Pakistan’s water resources.