Pakistan Offers to Join Neutral Probe Into Pahalgam Attack Amid Mounting Diplomatic Pressure From India
In the first formal response from Pakistan’s political leadership regarding the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday stated that Islamabad is willing to participate in a “neutral, transparent, and credible investigation” into the tragic incident.
His remarks mark the first official offer from Pakistan following the attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians — 25 Indians and one Nepalese national.
Sharif made these comments during his address at the Passing Out Parade ceremony of the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, near Abbottabad. Speaking from a prepared and vetted text, the Pakistan Prime Minister said,
“The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game which must come to a grinding halt. Pakistan, continuing its role as a responsible country, is open to participate in any neutral, transparent, and credible investigation.”
Sharif’s statement, delivered before a gathering of senior military officials, signals a carefully calibrated response by Pakistan’s establishment.
It reflects an attempt to present Islamabad as cooperative and responsible before the international community, even as tensions between India and Pakistan escalate over the terror incident.
This is not the first time Pakistan has proposed to join investigations into terror attacks.
A similar offer was extended following the 2016 Pathankot terror attack, when a Pakistani investigative team visited the Pathankot Airbase as part of a joint probe — an initiative that ultimately led to more diplomatic friction than resolution.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts have intensified in New Delhi.
Over the past two days, Indian officials have been briefing foreign governments about the Pahalgam attack, presenting what they describe as substantial evidence linking the attack to Pakistan.
Sources have indicated that a combination of technical intelligence, credible information from human intelligence sources, and crucial eyewitness testimonies have established the identities of the terrorists and confirmed their connection to Pakistan.
According to information shared with foreign diplomats, electronic signatures — digital footprints of the terrorists and the terror group The Resistance Front — have been traced to at least two locations inside Pakistan.
Investigators have also reportedly identified several terrorists involved, linking them to prior incidents of cross-border terrorism, further substantiating claims of Pakistani involvement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has personally conveyed details of the probe to 13 world leaders through phone conversations, and high-level meetings have been held in Delhi between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, and more than 30 foreign ambassadors based in India.
New Delhi has already initiated a series of diplomatic countermeasures aimed at isolating Pakistan internationally. Indian officials have defended these actions in conversations with foreign counterparts, insisting that the evidence collected is strong enough to justify diplomatic retaliation.
Foreign Secretary Misri, while explaining the measures, emphasized the “cross-border linkages” of the Pahalgam attack. India’s strategy, sources say, is aimed at building international consensus and increasing diplomatic pressure on Islamabad to act against terror groups operating from its soil.
In Islamabad, Pakistan’s Foreign Office has reportedly briefed foreign ambassadors, voicing concerns about a potential escalation in hostilities between the two countries.
However, India’s firm diplomatic offensive appears to be gaining traction, as New Delhi continues to underline the gravity of the Pahalgam attack and the necessity for collective global action against terrorism.
