ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik has said that Islamabad will invoke the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to challenge India’s aggressive actions after the Pahalgam incident.
While speaking to a Pakistani news channel, the Minister said that as soon as the federal cabinet gives its approval the ministry will approach the United Nations against the Indian move.
He said that India accused Pakistan of the Pahalgam attack within half an hour of the incident without conducting any investigation. “We are fully prepared against India. We will respond to every move of India by going two steps ahead,” he said.
Barrister Aqeel Malik said that he does not want the matter to go to the extent of creating problems for the region.
The minister said that an all-party conference can be called to discuss the current situation.
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours heightened after gunmen targeted tourists in the Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on 22 April, killing 26 people and injuring 17.
India swiftly blamed Pakistan for the attack without presenting any credible evidence. Pakistan condemned the attack and strongly rejected the Indian government’s baseless accusations.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said Islamabad was open to any “neutral and transparent” investigation into the Pahalgam attack.
A day after the incident India suspended a water-sharing treaty, announced the closure of the main land border crossing with Pakistan, downgraded diplomatic ties, and withdrew visas for Pakistanis.
In response, Islamabad ordered the expulsion of Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelling visas for Indian nationals – with the exception of Sikh pilgrims – and closing the main border crossing from its side.
Pakistan also warned any attempt by India to stop the supply of water from the Indus River would be an “act of war.”
Meanwhile, the Senate of Pakistan has unanimously passed a resolution emphatically stating that any misadventure by India will be met with a firm, swift and decisive response.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office has established an operations room to monitor the situation and developments in the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident.
