New Delhi: The terror attack Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22 rocked India and the rest of the world, infuriating common people against terrorism and those who execute such heinous plans. The attack killed 26 innocent people, out of which 25 were tourists while one was a Kashmiri pony ride operator. One of the most heinous terror attacks in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama attack, the Pahalgam incident has received worldwide condemnation with global leader like US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu throwing their support behind India in its war against terrorism.
In such a scenario, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that his country is ready for ‘neutral investigation’ into the Pahalgam terror attack. Notably, the attack has triggered high-level diplomatic and security responses from the Indian government against Pakistan, a nation accused of harbouring the handlers and backers of terrorists over the years.
Pakistan is capable to defend itself: Shehbaz Sharif
During a ceremony at a military academy in Abbottabad, Sharif said, “Pakistan is open to participating in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation.” However, he also added that Pakistani forces are fully prepared and are capable to defend the sovereignty of the country along with its territorial integrity “against any misadventure as clearly demonstrated by its measured yet resolute response to India’s reckless incursion in February 2019”.
He also said, “The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game, which must come to a grinding halt. Continuing with its role as a responsible country, Pakistan is open to participating in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation,” and added, “Pakistan has always condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
Earlier, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the Defence Minister of Pakistan told the New York Times that his country was “ready to cooperate” with any investigation of international parties. He also claimed that India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty for “domestic political purposes” by using “the terror attack as a pretext”. He said that New Delhi took the step without “any proof of Pakistan’s involvement”. He states, “We do not want this war to flare up, because flaring up of this war can cause disaster for this region.” Notably, the Indian government has retaliated against Pakistan after the terror attack by implementing a host of stringent measures, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, and closing the integrated check point at Attari border.
