New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his readiness for a “neutral investigation” into the deadly terror attack that took place in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including a Nepalese national. The attack, one of the deadliest since the scrapping of Article 370 in 2019, has escalated diplomatic tensions and triggered security responses from India, which accuses Pakistan of harboring the militants responsible.
In his address at a graduation ceremony at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sharif stated that Pakistan is ready to engage in a “credible, neutral, and transparent investigation” into the attack.
“The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of the ongoing blame game. Pakistan is open to participating in any neutral and transparent investigation,” said Sharif.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack. Pakistan has long been accused of harboring and supporting terror groups involved in cross-border terrorism, with intelligence sources revealing that one of the main suspects in the Pahalgam attack, Adil Ahmed Thoker, had received military training in Pakistan before infiltrating India.
Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s stance on terrorism, stating, “Pakistan has always condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
Diplomatic Fallout and India’s Response
Sharif’s comments follow remarks made by Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in an interview with the New York Times, where he said Pakistan is “ready to cooperate” with any international investigation.
In response to the Pahalgam attack, India has taken significant diplomatic and security measures against Pakistan. A Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, resulted in several actions, including a downgrading of diplomatic missions. Both the Indian and Pakistani high commissions will reduce their staff from 55 to 30 by May 1.
India has also expelled all defence, naval, and air advisors from Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi, declaring them persona non grata and instructing them to leave within a week. In reciprocation, India will withdraw its own military advisors from Islamabad and recall five support staff members.
Further measures include the suspension of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals, with all existing visas being canceled immediately. The Integrated Check Post at Attari, the only functioning land border crossing, has also been closed, with Pakistani nationals granted until May 1 to return.
One of the most significant moves was the suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that the treaty would remain in abeyance until Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably” halts its support for cross-border terrorism.
Tensions on the Line of Control
As diplomatic tensions rise, military activity along the Line of Control (LoC) has escalated, with Pakistani troops engaging in unprovoked firing on Indian positions for two consecutive nights. Indian forces have responded, but no casualties have been reported on either side.
India’s actions reflect its ongoing efforts to isolate Pakistan diplomatically and hold it accountable for its role in supporting terrorism in the region.
