Key points
- Pakistan has nothing to do with it: Asif
- Pakistan has expressed concerns over the loss of lives
- Levelling accusations is convenient: Asif
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has categorically said that “Pakistan has nothing to do with the Pahalgam incident,” stressing “civilians must not become victims of such conflicts”.
According to a Pakistani private news channel, he said, “We don’t support terrorism anywhere”.
Local media cited him as saying “Levelling accusations against Pakistan is convenient for India, but we have already provided evidence of Indian involvement in terrorist activities, especially in Balochistan.”
He said that India was trying to divert global attention from the ongoing unrest across several of its states, including Nagaland, Chhattisgarh, and Manipur.
Minorities
He, while referring to the multiple insurgencies inside India, stated that India has been exploiting its minorities which is fuelling such activities. He said that India continues to blame Pakistan for its own internal failures.
Earlier, Pakistan has expressed concerns at the loss of tourists’ lives in an attack in Anantnag district of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Radio Pakistan reported.
Responding to the queries of media persons, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said we extend our condolences to the near ones of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery. At least two dozen people were killed on Tuesday in the Pahalgam incident in IIOJK.
