Pakistan has called for an impartial investigation into the recent killings of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, an attack that New Delhi has blamed on Islamabad. While India has identified two of the three suspected attackers as Pakistani nationals, Islamabad has denied any involvement, maintaining that it is committed to peace and willing to cooperate in any neutral investigation.
“Pakistan is fully prepared to cooperate with neutral investigators to ensure that the truth is uncovered and justice is served,” said Pakistan's Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, on Saturday. He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to peace and stability while asserting that the country would not compromise on its sovereignty.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed these sentiments, calling for an end to the blame game. "The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is another example of this perpetual cycle, which must stop," he said.
In response, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to pursue the attackers “to the ends of the earth,” promising that those responsible would face severe consequences.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. Since the incident, calls for military retaliation against Pakistan have intensified among Indian politicians.
Following the attack, both India and Pakistan have taken retaliatory measures. Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines, while India suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which regulates the sharing of water from the Indus River. The two nations, both claiming Kashmir in full but governing it in part, have also exchanged gunfire across their de facto border for two consecutive days, breaking a four-year period of relative calm.
The Indian Army reported that it responded to “unprovoked” small arms fire from multiple Pakistan Army posts along the 740km (460-mile) border in Kashmir, though there were no reported casualties. Pakistan’s military has not yet commented on the exchange of fire.
Amid rising tensions, former Pakistani diplomat Maleeha Lodhi warned of the growing risk of escalation. Speaking to Al Jazeera, she expressed concerns about the rhetoric from both leaders, particularly Prime Minister Modi’s statements, suggesting that the nuclear-armed neighbors could be on the verge of a more dangerous confrontation. Lodhi cautioned that any military action could trigger a strong response from Pakistan, leading to the potential for a full-blown crisis. (Reported by Al Jazeera)
