KEY POINTS
- PM Shehbaz reiterates the call for a transparent and neutral investigation into the Pahalgam incident
- The Prime Minister warned of serious consequences in case of any Indian misadventure
- PM Shehbaz expresses serious concerns over India’s attempts to delegitimize the Kashmiri freedom struggle
- He highlighted widely documented India’s state-sponsored terrorism in IIOJK
- He criticised India’s weaponisation of Indus Basin waters, calling it unacceptable
- PM Shehbaz urged the UN chief to play his role in resolving the Jammu & Kashmir dispute
- UN chief appreciated Pakistan’s stance and cautioned against regional escalation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday held a telephone conversation with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, during which he firmly rejected Indian allegations linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident and warned of serious consequences in the event of any Indian misadventure.
During the telephone call, PM Shehbaz and the UN chief discussed the recent developments in South Asia.
The Prime Minister affirmed that Pakistan condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, while highlighting the significant sacrifices rendered by the country in the global war against terror.
While rejecting Indian accusations against Pakistan as baseless, PM Shehbaz categorically rejected any attempt to link Pakistan with the Pahalgam incident and reiterated his call for a transparent and neutral investigation into the incident.
PM Shehbaz expressed serious concerns over India’s attempts to delegitimize the Kashmiri freedom struggle by using the bogey of “terrorism”, as well as its widely documented state-sponsored terrorism in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The Prime Minister particularly highlighted India’s weaponization of the waters of the Indus Basin as unacceptable, while noting that water was the lifeline of 240 million people.
While underscoring that Pakistan shall defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity with full force in case of any misadventure by India, PM Shehbaz encouraged the UN Secretary-General to counsel India to act responsibly and exercise restraint.
He emphasised that the unresolved issue of Jammu & Kashmir remained the root cause of instability in South Asia, and urged the UN Secretary-General to play his role for its just resolution, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.
PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment towards fostering international peace and security as a responsible member of the international community and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
UN chief urges Pakistan, India to avoid confrontation
The UN Secretary-General appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for peace in South Asia and said that the world could not afford any escalation in the region at a crucial time.
According to a readout issued by the UN Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, the UN chief, in his separate telephone conversations with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, condemned the 22 April attack in Pahalgam.
Gutress stressed the need for justice and accountability to be pursued strictly through lawful and transparent means, underlining the importance of preventing any further escalation.
Expressing grave concern over the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the UN Secretary-General emphasised the urgency of avoiding a confrontation that could have dire consequences for the region and beyond.
Recalling the UN’s long-standing commitment to regional peace and stability, he offered his Good Offices to support de-escalation efforts and encouraged both parties to exercise maximum restraint in the interest of regional and global peace.
India running terror network in Pakistan: DG ISPR
Earlier, Pakistan military’s spokesman, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, presented irrefutable evidence revealing India’s involvement in undertaking cross-border terrorism inside Pakistan.
Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, the military’s spokesman revealed that a full-fledged Indian terror network has been uncovered within Pakistan.
The DG ISPR said that seven days had passed since the Pahalgam incident, but so far, India had not provided a “shred of evidence” for its “baseless allegations” against Pakistan.
He dismissed India’s accusations of terrorism against Pakistan as baseless and countered that New Delhi is, in fact, operating terrorist networks inside Pakistan.
He revealed that on 25 April, an Indian-trained operative was arrested from the Jhelum bus stand.
“Four days ago, on April 25, an Indian-trained and sponsored terrorist, who was a Pakistani citizen, was arrested near the Jhelum bus stand from whom one IED, two mobile phones, and Rs70,000 were recovered,” he said.
The DG ISPR said that further investigation yielded an Indian-origin drone from his house along with Rs1 million in cash. “An Indian-origin drone was recovered from the house of the suspect, identified as Majeed, along with Rs 1 million in cash.”
DG ISPR said audio evidence of conversations in India was recovered from the suspect’s mobile phone. He further noted that despite the passage of seven days since the Pahalgam attack, India has failed to present any concrete evidence to support its claims.
The DG ISPR said that a forensic analysis of the retrieved materials showed “irrefutable” evidence that could be examined by any credible independent agency.
“The handler was a junior commissioned officer (JCO) of the Indian army, Subedar Sukvinder,” Lt Gen Chaudhry said. “The Indian officer had sent an IED and instructed the terrorist to collect it from a point.
“The evidence I’m putting forth before you shows how India is carrying out terrorism in Pakistan through serving officers and JCOs of the Indian army.”
He said further forensic analysis showed the involvement of four Indian army officials in the situation: Major Sandeep Verma alias Sameer, the main handler and a commanding officer of the Indian army in occupied Kashmir; Subedar Sukvinder alias Sikander; Havildar Amit alias Adil Aman: and another Indian soldier.
Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that Pakistan possesses undeniable evidence against India, which is not only supporting terrorists but also providing them with weapons and other logistical support.
Pakistan Army shoots down Indian quadcopter
The Pakistan Army on Tuesday shot down two Indian quadcopters that violated Pakistani airspace along the Line of Control (LoC), in what officials described as a clear breach of sovereignty and an act of aggression.
According to security sources, the first incident occurred in the Munawar Sector in Bhimber district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where an Indian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), identified as a Phantom-4 quadcopter, was intercepted and neutralised after it attempted aerial surveillance within Pakistani territory.
Later the same day, a second Indian quadcopter was downed in the Satwal Sector in Poonch district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
In both instances, the Pakistan Army responded swiftly, preventing the devices from gathering any intelligence and neutralizing the threat.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations said the country had “credible evidence” proving that the Jaffer Express attack in Balochistan was “externally sponsored by its regional adversaries”, according to a press release issued today.
The Jaffar Express train was hijacked on March 11 when Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) terrorists ambushed the Peshawar-bound train, opening fire and taking hostages.
Security forces launched a two-day operation, concluding on March 12. The DG ISPR had said that all 33 terrorists were neutralised and no hostages were harmed in the final rescue phase.
Pahalgam crisis
Tensions escalated between Pakistan and India after gunmen attacked local 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.
A day after the Pahalgam incident on 23 April, India’s Cabinet Committee on Security approved measures including the closure of the Wagah-Attari border crossing and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
In response, Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) met on 24 April and warned that any attempt by India to block water flows into Pakistan would be considered an act of war.
The Pakistan Foreign Office on Friday said India was in no position to make a unilateral decision on the Indus Waters Treaty which is of critical importance for Pakistan’s water security and economy.
Foreign Office Spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan at his weekly media briefing in Islamabad said the unlawful, unilateral, and irresponsible Indian announcement threatens the very foundations of the entire edifice of interstate cooperation and smooth implementation of the treaties.
Pakistan’s National Security Committee also announced to closure of the Wagah border crossing with India.
On April 25, the Senate of Pakistan unanimously passed a resolution, rejecting India’s allegations as baseless and politically motivated.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said Islamabad was open to any “neutral and transparent” investigation into the Pahalgam attack. However, New Delhi has yet to respond to Pakistan’s offer.
“The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game, which must come to a grinding halt,” PM Shehbaz said.
Pakistan has consistently maintained that it has no interest in escalating conflict but would defend itself if attacked.
Earlier on Monday, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that the country was fully prepared to respond with “full force” if India initiated any military action.
Speaking to a private television channel, Asif said, “We want India’s lies on this issue to be exposed,” Asif said, adding that Pakistan had no desire for confrontation but would not hesitate to protect its sovereignty.
The situation deteriorated further when the Pakistani High Commission in London was vandalised by Indian miscreants on 26 April.
According to the Metropolitan Police, two persons were arrested in connection with the vandalism, which caused property damage including broken windows and paint attacks.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information, Attaullah Tarar, condemned the incident, claiming that Indian state institutions were behind the vandalism.
International calls for restraint have grown. China urged both India and Pakistan to “exercise restraint” and “properly handle relevant differences through dialogue and consultation,” according to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun.
Guo reaffirmed China’s support for a fair investigation into the Pahalgam attack and stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence for regional stability.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a phone call with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, reiterated Beijing’s consistent support for Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts and its legitimate security concerns.
The United States has also urged caution. “This is an evolving situation and we are monitoring developments closely,” a State Department spokesperson said. “The United States encourages all parties to work together towards a responsible resolution.”
