Shehbaz Sharif Responds to Pahalgam Terror Attack

Photo : AFP

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan is ready for a fair and neutral investigation into the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. In this attack, 26 people were killed, including a person from Nepal. The attack is one of the deadliest since Article 370 was removed in 2019. The attack has led to strong actions from India, accusing Pakistan of supporting the terrorist group behind the attack.

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Prime Minister Sharif spoke at a ceremony for students at the Pakistan Military Academy in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He said Pakistan is open to taking part in an investigation that is fair, open, and honest. He also said that the blame game between the countries needs to stop, and that Pakistan wants to be part of a serious investigation into the attack.

The Resistance Front (TRF), which is linked to the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, said it was behind the attack. Pakistan is often blamed for supporting terror groups that attack India. Reports from intelligence sources say that one of the attackers, Adil Ahmed Thoker, received training from terror groups in Pakistan. After six years, he entered India with other terrorists from Pakistan.

Sharif also said that Pakistan always condemns terrorism in all its forms. His statement came one day after Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan is ready to help with any international investigation into the attack.

In response to the attack, India held an important meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting discussed how India should respond to the Pahalgam attack. The committee took several important actions against Pakistan, accusing the country of helping and supporting terrorist groups.

At a press briefing, India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, explained the actions India has taken. India decided to reduce the number of diplomats at both the Indian and Pakistani embassies. The two countries will lower their staff from 55 to 30 by May 1. India also asked the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi to send home all its military, naval, and air advisors. These advisors have been told to leave India within a week. Similarly, India will remove its military advisors from its embassy in Pakistan and recall five support staff.

India has also stopped the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for people from Pakistan. This means that all visas given to Pakistani nationals under this scheme are now canceled. The CCS also ordered the closing of the Integrated Check Post at Attari, the only working border crossing between India and Pakistan. Pakistani nationals who entered India using this post can return to Pakistan before May 1.

India’s biggest decision was to stop following the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. This treaty is an agreement on sharing water between the two countries. India said it will not follow the treaty until Pakistan stops supporting terrorism across the border.

Even after these actions, tensions between India and Pakistan remain high. Pakistani soldiers have continued firing at Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC). This has happened for two nights in a row, and Indian forces have returned fire. However, no deaths have been reported from either side.

The situation is still tense, and both countries are watching what happens next. The international community is also keeping a close eye on the situation to see how it will unfold in the coming weeks.