Pakistan rubbishes India’s ‘false narrative’ linking Pakistan to Pahalgam attack
Says India remains focused on ‘weaponising its false narrative against Pakistan for narrow domestic political gains’
Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday strongly rejected what it called India’s “propaganda campaign” and “baseless allegations” linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The FO urged India to act responsibly and avoid inflammatory statements or actions that could further escalate regional tensions.
Although the FO did not specify the exact statements it was responding to, recent Indian media reports had claimed that the alleged mastermind of the Pahalgam attack was hiding in Pakistan and possessed a Pakistani identity card with a Rawalpindi address. These claims have not been independently verified.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also recently issued what was described as a veiled warning to Pakistan, further increasing tensions between the two countries.
The Pahalgam incident occurred on April 22 last year when unidentified attackers killed 26 people in the tourist town. India immediately blamed Pakistan without presenting evidence, an allegation strongly rejected by Islamabad. Tensions escalated further when India suspended the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty and took other diplomatic measures.
In its statement, the FO said India was once again attempting to “weaponise a false narrative” against Pakistan for domestic political purposes while ignoring efforts for regional peace.
Pakistan also reiterated that such accusations divert attention from the Kashmir dispute, where it says India’s actions violate United Nations resolutions and deny Kashmiris their right to self-determination.
The FO further said India’s military posture, provocative statements, and unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty were harmful to regional stability and violated international law.
It urged the international community to take notice and encourage India to act responsibly and avoid actions that could undermine peace efforts in the region.
The statement also referred to earlier escalations, including missile strikes in May 2025 and subsequent military responses from both sides. A ceasefire was later announced on May 10, 2025, following diplomatic efforts, which was confirmed by officials from both Pakistan and India.