ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has demanded answers from the Indian government following the recent revelations made by, Satya Pal Malik, former governor of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), regarding the Pulwama terrorist attack in 2019.
In a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Malik’s disclosures have once again vindicated Pakistan’s stance on the attack and exposed the Indian leadership’s alleged use of the bogey of terrorism from Pakistan for domestic political gains.
The Foreign Office further expressed hope that the global community would take notice of the latest revelations and see through India’s baseless propaganda campaign against Pakistan, caused by selfish political considerations and based on deceit and lies.
The statement also urged India to be held accountable for actions that imperilled regional peace in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack.
Malik, who is a former member of the Modi-led government, alleged during an interview that Indian Prime Minister Modi silenced him on the security lapses which led to the Pulwama attack.
The former governor claimed that Modi had benefited from concealing India’s own mistakes and blamed the attack on Pakistan for deriving electoral benefits for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Malik attributed the attack to the “incompetence and negligence of the Indian system” and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). He revealed that the request for airlifting the injured soldiers had been refused by the home ministry, while the clearance before the transfer by road was inefficient.
Malik also confirmed that he had sensed the onus would be diverted towards Pakistan, so he kept quiet.
Around 40 Indian soldiers killed in Pulwama attack
On February 14, 2019, about 40 Indian soldiers were killed and dozens injured in the Pulwama district of the IIOJK when an improvised explosive device went off as a convoy of military vehicles drove by. This attack is dubbed the deadliest in Indian forces in over a decade.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office has emphasized that it will continue to counter India’s false and baseless narrative and act firmly and responsibly in the face of various provocations.
The latest revelations have added further weight to Pakistan’s long-standing accusations against India and have raised serious questions about the credibility of India’s official position on the Pulwama attack.
The international community’s response to these revelations is expected to be closely watched as Pakistan seeks accountability and justice for the victims of the Pulwama attack.
