India Rejects Pakistan’s Denial of Involvement in Deadly Pahalgam Terror Attack
A day after the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of at least 25 tourists and one resident, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif denied any involvement, asserting that his country had “nothing to do” with the incident. However, Indian authorities remain deeply sceptical of Islamabad’s claims.
Speaking to a Pakistani television channel on Wednesday, Asif said,
“We have absolutely nothing to do with it. We reject terrorism in all its forms and everywhere.”
Echoing this sentiment, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing concern over the loss of lives in Anantnag district, offering condolences to the victims’ families and wishing a speedy recovery to those injured.
However, Indian officials have dismissed these statements as hollow, especially in light of early intelligence findings.
According to the initial investigation, four gunmen, including at least two believed to be foreign nationals, dressed in military-style camouflage, opened fire on civilians gathered in the scenic Baisaran meadow, near the tourist town of Pahalgam.
The attack has been described as the deadliest terror strike on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Security agencies suspect the involvement of The Resistance Front (TRF) — a shadow outfit believed to be an offshoot of the Pakistan-based banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) — which reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.
TRF’s links to LeT have long fueled Indian concerns about cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistani soil.
Context of Heightened Tensions
The terror attack comes amid rising tensions following provocative comments made just a week earlier by Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir.
While addressing the Overseas Pakistani Convention in Islamabad, Munir reiterated Pakistan’s long-standing position on Kashmir, calling it the country’s “jugular vein” and declaring unwavering support for Kashmiris.
“Our stance is absolutely clear — it was our jugular vein, it will be our jugular vein. We will not forget it, nor abandon our Kashmiri brothers in their heroic struggle,” he said.
Munir also invoked the two-nation theory, emphasizing the historical and ideological divide between India and Pakistan.
“Our religions are different, our customs are different, our thoughts and ambitions are different. That was the foundation of the two-nation theory. We are two nations, not one.”
India responded sharply through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed Munir’s rhetoric, saying,
“How can anything foreign be part of a jugular vein? Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory of India. The only relation it has with Pakistan is for that country to vacate the territory it has illegally occupied.”
High-Level Security Review Underway
Following his return from Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a high-level emergency meeting at Delhi airport to assess the situation.
He was briefed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the evolving security landscape in Kashmir.
Government sources confirmed that India is actively evaluating all strategic and security options in response to the Pahalgam attack, signaling a possible escalation in diplomatic and counter-terrorism measures.
The brutal assault has not only shocked the nation but also reignited concerns about persistent threats from across the border, even as the region witnesses increased international tourism and development initiatives.
