Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claims: “We have no connection with the Pahalgam attack”

Accuses Indians themselves of being behind the attack

Islamabad (Pakistan) – We have no involvement whatsoever in the terrorist attack at Pahalgam. It is people from within India who are responsible. We oppose all forms of terrorism, claimed Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in response to ongoing allegations that Pakistan was behind the attack.

Khawaja Asif further stated:

There is anger against the Government in many Indian states, from Manipur and Nagaland to Kashmir and Chhattisgarh. The Indian Government is curbing people’s rights and exploiting them. Minorities are being oppressed. People are standing up against this. We have no involvement in such matters. We do not support acts of terrorism.

In any internal conflict, innocent people should not be targeted. If the Army or Police in India raise arms against common citizens, then blaming Pakistan becomes an easy escape route.

“India is the one causing unrest in Pakistan” – Asif’s baseless counter-allegation

Blaming India, Asif further alleged, We have repeatedly presented evidence showing that India is fuelling unrest in Balochistan and other regions of Pakistan. Whether from Afghanistan or elsewhere, India is behind efforts to destabilise Pakistan; this has a long history.

As of now, there has been no official response from India to Asif’s accusations.

Editorial Perspectives

• Even a murderer may one day admit his crime, but Pakistan will never accept that it has orchestrated terrorist attacks in India. So Asif’s statement comes as no surprise. Instead of handing evidence to such a Pakistan, India should prepare to deal with it firmly.
• There is no doubt that Indians were involved in this terror attack, except that they were Indian jihadi Muslims, operating for the past 35 years under Pakistan’s orders, and with its arms supply, across Kashmir and other parts of India.