NEW DELHI: The Tuesday’s attack on tourists in Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) has triggered a wave of scepticism as several observers and political analysts alleged the incident may have been a false flag operation orchestrated by the Indian government.
The incident, which claimed at least 26 lives in the Anantnag district, coincided with the visit of United States Vice President JD Vance to India. Pakistan has expressed deep concern over the loss of innocent lives, while strongly rejecting accusations of involvement.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Khan extended condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a swift recovery.
“We are concerned at the loss of tourists’ lives in an attack in Anantnag district of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. We extend our condolences to the near ones of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” he said.
Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan also condemned the incident, expressing sympathies with the victims and their families.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif categorically denied any Pakistani role in the attack, stating, “Pakistan has nothing to do with the Pahalgam incident. Civilians must not become victims of such conflicts. We don’t support terrorism anywhere.”
Speaking to local media, Khawaja Asif criticised India’s quick move to blame Pakistan without presenting credible evidence.
“Levelling accusations against Pakistan is convenient for India, but we have already provided evidence of Indian involvement in terrorist activities, especially in Balochistan,” he noted.
He further accused India of attempting to divert global attention from its internal unrest in states such as Nagaland, Chhattisgarh, and Manipur.
Doubts over the official Indian account have grown amid the lack of verifiable evidence. Critics point to the absence of video footage or photographs of the alleged attackers’ bodies, despite claims by Indian forces that the perpetrators were neutralised.
Questions have also been raised about how such an attack could be carried out in a highly militarised zone, guarded by nearly 800,000 Indian troops.
One of the most puzzling aspects, according to observers, is how the attackers allegedly crossed the heavily fortified Line of Control and travelled more than 400 kilometres undetected.
This has led to speculation that the attack was staged to create an anti-Pakistan narrative ahead of important diplomatic engagements.
Indian media outlets—commonly referred to as “Godi media” for their pro-government stance—have been accused of spreading misinformation.
A morphed image broadcast by several channels showed a man lying on the ground with no visible injuries, further fuelling doubts over the credibility of the official narrative.
Analysts have noted that within minutes of the incident, a coordinated online campaign was launched from social media accounts allegedly linked to India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
The campaign quickly blamed Pakistan without providing supporting evidence, relying instead on emotionally charged rhetoric.
India, which controversially revoked Kashmir’s special constitutional status in 2019, continues to face international criticism for its human rights record in the region.
The revocation enabled authorities to grant domicile rights to outsiders, fuelling anger among local Kashmiris and sparking mass protests.
Despite its strong rhetoric, India has yet to present any intercepted communications, forensic reports, or credible visual evidence linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident.
Observers caution that delayed or fabricated “proof” often surfaces following such attacks, a pattern seen in several past episodes.
Pakistan has reiterated its commitment to regional peace and condemned all forms of terrorism.
