NEW DELHI: India’s Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted a petition seeking a judicial probe into the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which claimed the lives of 26 local tourists and injured 17 others.
The petition, filed by three residents of IIOJK, urges the Indian top court to constitute a judicial commission led by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate security failures that have led to the incident. The court is scheduled to hear the plea on Thursday.
Petitioners have also requested the formation of a special investigation team to identify those responsible for the failure of security arrangements in the highly militarised region where nearly 800,000 Indian troops are deployed.
The demand comes amid growing scrutiny of Indian security agencies following the incident, which triggered escalations between India and Pakistan.
Immediately after the attack, Indian authorities accused Pakistan of involvement, though no verifiable evidence has been provided publicly.
Pakistan strongly condemned the incident and categorically rejected the Indian government’s allegations, calling them “baseless” and “politically motivated.”
On 23 April, a day after the attack, India’s Cabinet Committee on Security approved retaliatory measures including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and the closure of the Wagah-Attari border crossing.
These unilateral steps were criticised by Islamabad, which labelled them as provocative and contrary to international law.
Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) convened on 24 April in response to New Delhi’s moves.
The NSC warned that any attempt to block water flows into Pakistan would be deemed an “act of war.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said that India has no legal authority to unilaterally withdraw from the Indus Waters Treaty, describing the agreement as vital for Pakistan’s water security and economy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s position on Saturday, expressing openness to a “neutral and transparent” international investigation into the Pahalgam incident.
“The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game, which must come to a grinding halt,” he said, urging both countries to de-escalate tensions.
On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, speaking at a joint press conference alongside DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, warned that India’s “irresponsible actions” were destabilising the region. “The entire region is under threat due to India’s reckless behaviour,” he stated.
Dar reiterated Pakistan’s firm opposition to terrorism in all its forms, stressing, “No cause can justify terrorism.”
He added that Pakistan has borne the brunt of terrorism over the years, suffering over $150 billion in economic losses and the deaths of thousands of citizens.
“We have contacted several countries following the Pahalgam incident,” Dar said, accusing India of “celebrating violence and bloodshed” in the region. He affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace but warned that it would defend itself if provoked.
