Islamabad, April 23, 2026: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan on Thursday strongly criticised India for what it termed a renewed campaign of “baseless allegations and propaganda” linking Pakistan to the April 2025 Pahalgam attack.
In an official statement, the Foreign Office said it was “deplorable” that India had once again attempted to associate Pakistan with the incident, particularly at a time when Islamabad is engaged with international partners in diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting regional and global peace.
The response came following remarks by the Indian Army on the anniversary of the attack in Pahalgam, where 26 people were killed in an assault on tourists last year.
The FO reiterated that New Delhi had failed to provide any credible evidence to support its claims and recalled that Pakistan had categorically rejected the आरोपations at the time, while also calling for a neutral and independent investigation into the incident.
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours escalated sharply after the attack, culminating in a brief but intense military confrontation in May 2025. According to Pakistani officials, India launched what Islamabad described as unprovoked missile strikes, resulting in civilian and military casualties.
Pakistan responded with military action, including the downing of multiple Indian aircraft, before a ceasefire was reached on May 10 through mediation by the United States.
Referring to the episode, the Foreign Office said India’s allegations were part of a broader pattern aimed at deflecting attention from its own policies in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. It added that such narratives could not distract the international community from what it described as ongoing human rights concerns and denial of the right to self-determination in the region, in violation of United Nations resolutions.
The statement also accused India of undermining regional peace through “inflammatory rhetoric, repeated provocations, and aggressive military posturing,” including its reported move to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.
Islamabad urged the international community to encourage India to adopt a responsible approach and avoid actions that could jeopardise ongoing diplomatic efforts for peace and stability.
Separately, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar also criticised New Delhi, stating that it had failed to present credible evidence regarding the Pahalgam attack and had avoided calls for an independent probe.
In a televised statement, Tarar alleged that the incident reflected a pattern of “false narratives” and reiterated Pakistan’s stance that the matter should be investigated impartially.
The latest exchange highlights the continuing strain in Pakistan-India relations, with both sides maintaining sharply divergent positions on the incident and broader regional issues.
