ISLAMABAD – In a sharp rebuttal to recent comments made by Indian officials, Pakistan on Friday rejected what it described as baseless accusations linking Islamabad to the recent attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
The response came after Indian Home Minister Amit Shah told parliament that Pakistani nationals were involved in the incident, claiming security forces had recovered Pakistani voter IDs and locally produced chocolates from the militants killed in the encounter.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan pushed back strongly, calling the Indian narrative “pure fiction” and devoid of credibility. “These stories are not just false — they are deliberate fabrications meant to stoke tension,” Khan said during his weekly press briefing in Islamabad.
Islamabad Calls Operation Mahadev “Strategically Irrelevant”
Dismissing India’s so-called “Operation Mahadev” as theatrics, Khan accused New Delhi of manufacturing stories to justify aggressive military actions and nuclear sabre-rattling. “There is no weight to India’s claims. The operation is strategically meaningless in Pakistan’s view,” he asserted.
He also targeted what he called inflammatory rhetoric from Indian lawmakers regarding a separate operation, codenamed “Sindoor,” labeling it as part of a wider campaign to distort reality and legitimize unprovoked military aggression.
May Airstrikes Condemned as Unilateral and Unjustified
Khan pointed to the Indian airstrikes carried out on the night of May 6–7 as a dangerous escalation, arguing that they occurred without any credible investigation into the Pahalgam attack. According to Islamabad, these strikes killed innocent civilians and failed to achieve India’s stated objectives.
In response, Pakistan claims it launched a “decisive and proportionate” military counter-strike, targeting Indian aircraft and infrastructure. Khan framed Pakistan’s response as both measured and effective, describing it as a clear signal that Islamabad would not tolerate unilateral aggression.
Pakistan Proposes Probe, India Accused of Playing Judge and Jury
Rather than retaliate blindly, Khan said, Pakistan had offered an independent investigation into the Pahalgam incident. “India not only refused this proposal but chose to act unilaterally, becoming judge, jury, and executioner,” he said.
He called on India to acknowledge the costs of its actions and be open to third-party mediation in future cross-border incidents — something New Delhi has traditionally resisted, insisting on bilateral mechanisms.
India’s “New Normal” Doctrine Rejected
Responding to India’s growing emphasis on a more assertive military doctrine in the region — often dubbed the “new normal” — Khan said such an approach undermines regional peace and ignores the principles of mutual respect and sovereignty.
“The only sustainable path forward lies in honoring international commitments and engaging in meaningful dialogue,” he said.
Indus Waters Treaty and Accusations of Treaty Violations
Khan also criticized India’s recent statements about the Indus Waters Treaty, describing any attempt to unilaterally suspend it as a blatant violation of international law. He warned that using water access as a geopolitical tool not only breaches long-standing agreements but sets a dangerous precedent.
Accusations of Disinformation and War Mongering
The spokesperson accused India of orchestrating a disinformation campaign aimed at fostering “war hysteria” and destabilizing South Asia. “While India continues to propagate fiction and fuel conflict, Pakistan remains committed to dialogue, peace, and regional cooperation,” he concluded.
Khan also underlined an inconsistency in India’s narrative, pointing out that the individuals blamed for the Pahalgam attack were reportedly killed even before Shah addressed the parliament — raising questions about the timing and authenticity of India’s claims.
