KEY POINTS
- Pakistan has responded in kind to India’s announcements
- Pakistan possesses credible evidence of the arrival of “foreign nationals” in Srinagar carrying weapons
- Pakistan’s armed forces ready to respond to any act of Indian aggression
- In response to India’s unilateral move regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan has the option to suspend the Simla Agreement
- Indian is supporting terrorist groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to destabilise the country
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday challenged India to present credible and verifiable evidence before the international community of Pakistan’s alleged involvement in Tuesday’s Pahalgam attack in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a press conference alongside Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and other ministers after a high-level meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC), Ishaq Dar dismissed the Indian accusations as baseless and politically motivated, urging New Delhi to stop using Pakistan as a scapegoat.
“India has time and again played the blame game, and if there is proof of Pakistan’s involvement, please share it with us and the world,” Dar said.
The incident occurred in the Pahalgam area of IIOJK. Gunmen opened fire on visitors, killing at least 26 people and injuring 17 others.
On Wednesday, India shut borders, downgraded diplomatic ties and, in an unprecedented move, unilaterally announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960 over what the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and media claimed — without offering any evidence — was Islamabad’s alleged support for cross-border terrorism.
Ishaq Dar rattled off Pakistan’s National Security Committee’s decisions and said Pakistan had responded in kind to the Indian announcements.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Pakistan has credible evidence and intelligence of the arrival of some “foreign nationals” in Srinagar with weapons.
“Indian intelligence agencies have kept these people in Srinagar,” he added.
“We know that Indian intelligence is supporting them, and the foreigners are trying to export IEDs (improvised explosive devices). You can imagine where they are trying to export them,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan’s armed forces were ready to respond to any Indian aggression, and nobody should have the wrong idea.
LIVE: Pakistan’s Response on Indian Propaganda Against Pakistan| Ishaq Dar & Khawaja Asif Press Conference https://t.co/u7OtHHfKLY
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Pakistan Warns of Befitting Response to Indian Misadventure
The Deputy Prime Minister recalled the capture of Indian pilot Abhinandan by Pakistan in 2019 and warned of Pakistan’s befitting response if India resorted to any misadventure.
“We are prepared in regard to defence. If anyone tries to attempt any adventure, then they’ve tried in the past as well and failed so this time around it will be even worse for them.”
Ishaq Dar also warned that Pakistan would respond in kind if India withdrew security from Pakistan’s High Commission in India.
The Deputy premier also warned that Pakistan has the option to suspend the Simla agreement in response to India’s move against the Indus Waters Treaty.
“We will take our friends in confidence. Pakistan is fully prepared,” he said adding that the World Bank will also be apprised of India’s announcement.
He said the decisions taken by the NSC will be handed over to the Indian envoy as demarche.
India Exporting Terrorism to Canada and US
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that, although India had not named Pakistan directly for the incident, however, the media and other stakeholders were blaming the country.
“Modi is the only world leader who was denied a visa by the US and it was on the grounds of terrorism,” Asif said.
“We have categorically condemned this [attack]. We condemn all forms of terrorism anywhere in the world without any hesitation, be it in India.”
He said that without any hesitation, Pakistan was the greatest victim of terrorism in the world.
“Terrorism is raging in Pakistan, both in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan,” the defence minister said, alleging that sponsors and leaders of banned militant outfits, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), “are sitting in India and they get treatment there”. “This is not speculation, this is hard fact,” he added.
Asif said terrorism was being exported to Pakistan, adding that whatever is emanating from Afghanistan or happening in Balochistan “clearly shows the footprints and fingerprints of India”.
He said India had as a state “exported terrorism” to Canada and the United States with protests by their leadership as well. “Thank God there are no such allegations against Pakistan,” Asif added.
The defence minister said that if India were to officially name Pakistan in the backdrop of the Pahalgam incident, the country would give a “befitting response”.
“There should not be any doubt about that, neither to India or the international community,” he said, adding that Pakistan had the complete right to its self-defence.
India’s Role in Terrorism in Pakistan
Citing the example of Indian national Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav, Asif said that there were a series of incidents in the past 15 to 20 years which proved that India played a part in terrorism in Pakistan.
He said that groups like the TTP and the BLA were proxies of India who had declared war on Pakistan. “India is already fighting a low-intensity war through terrorists against us,” he said.
“If they want to ramp up its scale then we are ready for that, let no have any doubt. We are not about to fold to any international pressure when it comes to our soil and security.”
Asif said Pakistan’s unity would be on full display on the international scene if the propaganda since the past few days took on another form and “India will get to know too how we can respond”.
Talking about the legal aspects of India’s announcement, the Attorney General of Pakistan, who is an active member of the team that deals with the Indus Water Treaty, said that the treaty could not be suspended, let alone either party do it unilaterally.
“If the treaty is to be ended, then it would end by an agreement between the two countries,” the AGP said.
“As far as the [Indian] statement is concerned, which is only a statement for now, if this escalates, then Pakistan, according to the treaty, has all legal rights,” he said, adding that Pakistan would approach any forum related to the treaty to present its case.
At this, Deputy Prime Minister Dar added that when the Indian external foreign secretary gave the statement, the charge d’affaires at the Pakistani High Commission in India was summoned and issued a demarche.
“In that demarche, there was everything that they had decided. Interestingly, it does not mention the IWT,” he said.
Dar said the Foreign Office would summon Indian officials and issue a demarche today to convey to them the NSC’s decisions.
“Looking at these conditions, my visits to Bangladesh and Kabul have been delayed so that we can prepare a diplomatic response,” he added.
Pakistan Considers Indian Violation of Indus Water Treaty Act of War
Earlier, the National Security Committee warned that any move by India to divert the flow of water lawfully belonging to Pakistan would be “considered an act of war”. The committee met for over two hours on Thursday to assess and formulate a response.
The move comes in response to India’s unilateral decision to suspend the six-decade-old Indus Water Treaty and also taking other steps against Pakistan in the aftermath of an attack on tourists in IIOJK.
Pakistan has suspended all trade with India and closed its airspace with immediate effect for all Indian-owned or Indian-operated airlines in response to India’s slew of aggressive measures against the country.
“All trade with India, including to and from any third country through Pakistan, is suspended forthwith”, an NSC communique said.
Indian Unilateral Actions are Extremely Irresponsible and Unjust
Expressing concern over the loss of tourists’ lives, the committee reviewed the Indian measures announced on 23 April 2025 and termed them unilateral, unjust, politically motivated, extremely irresponsible and devoid of legal merit.
The participants discussed the national security environment and the regional situation, particularly in the wake of the Pahalgam incident in the Anantnag area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on 22 April 2025.
Pakistan Supports Kashmiri Right of Self-Determination
The meeting reiterated that “Kashmir remains an unresolved dispute between Pakistan and India as recognised through multiple UN resolutions. Pakistan continues to support the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people. The continued Indian state oppression, abrogation of statehood, political and demographic gerrymandering, has persistently led to an organic backlash from the people of IIOJK, which perpetuates cycles of violence.”
Moreover, the NSC meeting denounced the persecution of minorities in India.
“India’s systemic persecution of minorities, particularly Muslims, has become more pervasive. Attempts at the forced passage of the Waqf Bill are the latest effort to marginalize Muslims across India. India must resist the temptation to exploit such tragic incidents to its advantage and take full responsibility for its failure to provide security to the people.
The Pakistani leadership also said the country condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Attempt to Link Pakistan with Pahalgam incident is Frivolous
“As the world’s front-line state against terrorism, Pakistan has suffered immense human and economic losses. Indian attempts to inject volatility in the environment along Pakistan’s eastern borders are aimed at distracting Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts. In the absence of any credible investigation and verifiable evidence, attempts to link the Pahalgam attack with Pakistan are frivolous, devoid of rationality and defeat logic.
Additionally, the NSC statement said, “India’s worn-out narrative of victimhood cannot obfuscate its own culpability in fomenting terrorism on Pakistan’s soil, nor can it distract attention from its systematic and state-sponsored oppression and human rights violations in IIOJK. Contrary to Indian claims, Pakistan has in its custody incontrovertible proof of Indian-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan, including the confession of a serving Indian Navy officer, Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, who remains a living testament to India’s state-sponsored terrorist activities.”
Any Threat Will Be Met with Reciprocal Measures in All Domains
The committee deplored the threat contained in the Indian statement of 23 April 2025.
“The international community ought to remain mindful of India’s state-sponsored extraterritorial assassinations or attempts on foreign soil. These heinous acts were carried out in blatant violation of international law as recently exposed by Pakistan, along with various other states, with undeniable evidence. Pakistan will pursue all those responsible, planners and perpetrators alike and ensure that justice is served. Any threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty and to the security of its people will be met with firm reciprocal measures in all domains.”
Pakistan warned that India should refrain from its reflexive blame game and exploitation of incidents like Pahalgam to further its political agenda.
Such tactics serve only to inflame tensions and obstruct the path to peace and stability in the region, the huddle noted.
Water is 240 Million Pakistanis Life Line Which Will be Defended at All Costs
“Pakistan vehemently rejects the Indian announcement to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. The Treaty is a binding international agreement brokered by the World Bank and contains no provision for unilateral suspension. Water is a Vital National Interest of Pakistan, a lifeline for its 240 million people, and its availability will be safeguarded at all costs,” the NSC statement further said.
Pakistan Holds in Abeyance All Bilateral Agreements, including the Simla Accord, with India
It noted that “Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty, and the usurpation of the rights of lower riparian will be considered as an Act of War and responded with full force across the complete spectrum of National Power. Noting the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of India, which disregards international conventions, UN Security Council Resolutions and international obligations at will, Pakistan shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India including but not limited to the Simla Agreement in abeyance, till India desists from its manifested behaviour of fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan; trans-national killings; and non-adherence to international law and UN Resolutions on Kashmir.”
Pakistan Closes All Air and Land Links with India
Moreover, Pakistan will close down the Wagah Border Post, with immediate effect.
All cross-border transit from India through this route will be suspended, without exception.
Those who have crossed with valid endorsements may return through that route immediately but not later than 30 April 2025.
“Pakistan suspends all visas under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) issued to Indian nationals and deems them cancelled with immediate effect, with the exception of Sikh religious pilgrims. Indian nationals currently in Pakistan under SVES are instructed to exit within 48 hours, less Sikh pilgrims. Pakistan declares the Indian Defence, Naval and Air Advisors in Islamabad persona non grata. They are directed to leave Pakistan immediately, but not later than 30 April 2025. These posts in the Indian High Commission are deemed annulled. Support staff of these Advisors are also directed to return to India.”
The strength of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad will be reduced to 30 diplomats and staff members, with effect from 30 April 2025, the committee decided.
Pakistani Armed Forces Are Capable and Ready
It underscored that Pakistan and its Armed Forces remain fully capable and prepared to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any misadventure, as clearly demonstrated by its measured yet resolute response to India’s reckless incursion in February 2019.
“In conclusion, India’s belligerent measures have vindicated the Two- Nation Theory as well as the apprehensions of Quaid- E- Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, as encapsulated in the 1940 Pakistan Resolution, which continues to echo the sentiments of the complete Pakistani Nation. The Pakistani Nation remains committed to peace, but will never allow anyone to transgress its sovereignty, security, dignity and their inalienable rights,” the NSC statement said.
