KEY POINTS
- India acts aggressively against Pakistan without any evidence.
- NSC affirms Pakistan’s right to respond.
- Kashmir dispute affects 1.6 billion people.
- India’s attack kills 31 Pakistani civilians.
- Pakistan shoots down five Indian Air Force (IAF) jets.
WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, on Thursday said that India’s aggression following the Pahalgam attack in Occupied Kashmir reflected a lawless attitude.
In interviews with prominent American television networks Fox News and PBS, Ambassador Sheikh said that following the Pahalgam incident, India acted aggressively without any evidence, adding that in response to Indian aggression, Pakistan carried out a strong defensive action.
He went on to say the global community welcomed Pakistan’s call for an impartial and transparent probe into the Pahalgam incident, adding that India’s actions reflected a disregard for international law.
He noted that the National Security Committee’s (NSC) statement clearly affirmed Pakistan’s right to respond under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
“We reserve the right to respond at a time and manner of our choosing. We are a peace-loving nation, but we seek peace with dignity,” he added.
Rizwan Saeed Sheikh emphasised the importance of the international community focusing its attention on the unresolved issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
“As a global power, we expect the United States and President Trump to play a role in resolving the Kashmir issue,” he said.
The Pakistani envoy maintained that the Kashmir dispute affects the 1.6 billion people of Pakistan and India, and therefore, resolving it in accordance with UN resolutions is essential.
Earlier today, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said that the US is closely following the situation in South Asia and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to peace and stability in the region amid the escalating tensions between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India.
According to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Shehbaz received a call from Secretary Rubio on Thursday evening.
During the conversation, Secretary Rubio noted that the United States was closely monitoring the situation in South Asia and reiterated Washington’s commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region.
Rubio urged both Pakistan and India to work together to de-escalate the situation, the statement said.
“Both sides agreed to remain in contact,” the statement added.
India’s attack kills 31 Pakistani civilians
Late on Tuesday, India launched air strikes targeting different cities in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan’s military said India targeted six locations, and at least 31 civilians were killed and 57 others injured in the strikes and cross-border firing along the Line of Control.
The Pakistan armed forces shot down five Indian Air Force (IAF) jets, a combat drone, and destroyed brigade headquarters, including a number of check posts along the LoC, after New Delhi carried out missile strikes in cities of Punjab and AJK, DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed.
In a press briefing, DG ISPR said Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Ahmedpur Sharqia Bagh and Muridke were hit by Indian missiles. He warned that the “cowardly” act will not go unpunished.
