Facing growing scrutiny after the Pahalgam massacre that left 26 dead, Pakistan’s government on Tuesday accused India of planning a military assault within 24 to 36 hours. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also contacted the United Nations Secretary-General, urging a neutral investigation into the incident.
In a statement aimed at deflecting criticism over Islamabad’s alleged failure to act against terror groups operating from its soil, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, claimed the country had “credible intelligence” of an imminent Indian assault.
“Pakistan has credible intelligence that India intends to carry out military action against Pakistan in the next 24–36 hours on the pretext of baseless and concocted allegations of involvement in the Pahalgam incident,” Tarar said in a post on social media platform X.
Accusing India of playing the role of “Judge, Jury and Executioner,” Tarar added, “Indian self-assumed hubris role of Judge, Jury and Executioner in the region is reckless and vehemently rejected. Pakistan has been the victim of terrorism itself and truly understands the pain of this scourge. We have always condemned it in all its forms and manifestations anywhere in the world. Being a responsible state, Pakistan offered a credible, transparent, and independent investigation by a neutral commission of experts, which was heartily welcomed.
“Unfortunately, rather than pursuing the path of reason, India has apparently decided to tread the dangerous path of irrationality and confrontation, which will have catastrophic consequences for the entire region and beyond.”
The Pakistani foreign office also reiterated similar accusations, with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar claiming in Parliament that Islamabad’s pressure had led to the removal of the name of The Resistance Front (TRF)—an offshoot of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba—from a United Nations Security Council statement on the Pahalgam attack. The assertion has added to suspicions over Pakistan’s tacit support for terror operatives.
As Islamabad appeared increasingly isolated in the international community, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephonic conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, urging him to push for an independent probe into the Pahalgam killings.
“Had a telephone conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. I reaffirmed Pakistan's condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, rejected baseless Indian accusations, and called for a transparent and neutral investigation into the Pahalgam incident... Pakistan remains committed to peace, but will defend its sovereignty with full force if challenged,” Sharif wrote on X.
India, for its part, has maintained that it holds Pakistan-based elements responsible for orchestrating the April 22 carnage and has vowed to take decisive steps to prevent further acts of cross-border terrorism.
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