Message to India: Any attack won’t go unpunished

Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan would not open fire but reserves the right to deliver a “befitting response” if provoked amid fears India is about to launch a military strike on Pakistan.

But, DG ISPR Lt General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry and Dar addressing join press briefing, it told that Pakistan’s armed forces remained on high alert but remain committed to peace and restraint.

But we will not be the first to escalate. Dar however reprimanded India and said that if they are to initiate any aggression, ‘our response will be strong and resolute.’

Context: The Pahalgam Attack and Rising Tensions

The tensions between the two nuclear armed neighbours have heightened after a suicide bomber targeted a tourist bus in Pahalgam town of the Indian administered Kashmir (Jammu and Kashmir) on April 22, killing 26 tourists. Pakistan based outfits are blamed by India; Islamabad has condemned the attack and demanded a neutral investigation.

Terrorism in all forms is abhorred and Pakistan vehemently condemns targeting of civilians, reiterated Dar, saying such forms of act were deeply deplorable. He also accused India of wrongly ‘glorifying state assassinations’ and ‘supporting terrorism inside Pakistan.’

Pakistan’s Concerns About Indian Narrative

India’s immediate accusation against Pakistan was challenged by DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif. ‘There was inconsistency in the Indian claims,’ he pointed out.

The distance of the site of the attack from the LoC is 230 km, a difficult distance from Pakistani territory to reach quickly.

The framing of the attack by India as ‘Muslims firing on Hindus’ causes fear of communal polarization in India.

Within minutes, allegations began surfacing, leading to the strong belief of a well coordinated disinformation campaign.

India is using the attack for those three purposes, he added.

I thought about how to justify cancelling of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Acts to distract from their own security lapses in Kashmir.

To stir domestic political sentiment ahead of elections.

Reports of Pakistani Prisoners Being Used in Fake Encounters

DG ISPR also made claims that disturbing claims of Pakistani civilians detained in Indian jails are being killed in staged encounters. Muhammad Farooq is one such case, who is, allegedly killed in Uri and falsely named an ‘infiltrator’.

He said that India, which is using imprisoned Pakistanis in fake encounters and spreading disinformation for political gain, has created such conditions.

Calls for International Accountability

The six critical questions that Dar posed to the global community were:

Will transnational assassinations have been committed in India’s name and India not be held accountable for it?

Is there a way to separate sympathy towards the victims from Indian militarism?

Is Indian propaganda for war a fabrication?

Should India be allowed to go out of respect for international law in practice?

Can India’s religious targeting and Islamophobia be condemned by the world?

Isn’t Indian brinkmanship dangerous in this nuclearised region?

The situation along the Line of Control has been tense and the next few days are crucial for regional peace as both sides continue to issue sharp statements. Diplomatic and military developments are rapidly unfolding and all are being urged to intervene.