Islamabad, April 26, 2026: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Sunday that one year after the Pahalgam incident, India’s narrative surrounding the episode has failed to gain international acceptance, asserting that Pakistan’s position has been strengthened over time.
Speaking at a special event marking the anniversary, the minister said recent developments had reinforced Pakistan’s stance and raised questions over New Delhi’s claims regarding the incident.
He referred to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul last year, in which Pakistan presented its official position and criticised India’s handling of the situation.
The two nuclear-armed neighbours went to war in May last year following an attack on tourists in Pahalgam in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which resulted in 26 deaths. Without presenting evidence, India accused Pakistan of involvement—allegations Islamabad denied and called for a neutral investigation.
India subsequently launched missile strikes inside Pakistan, which Islamabad said resulted in civilian and military casualties. Pakistan responded by downing several Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets, and destroying military assets, including an S-400 air defence system.
The conflict between the two countries ended on May 10 with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.
Tarar said that during his 2025 address at PMA Kakul, the prime minister had rejected what he termed baseless allegations and called for an end to the cycle of blame surrounding such incidents. He added that the National Security Committee (NSC) had also issued a detailed response shortly after the accusations emerged.
The minister said the prime minister had described the Pahalgam incident as a tragedy and expressed condolences for the victims, while simultaneously raising concerns about the repeated pattern of accusations against Pakistan.
He contrasted Pakistan’s approach with India’s, claiming that Islamabad has consistently condemned terrorism and taken concrete steps against it, while accusing New Delhi of maintaining an inconsistent position on the issue.
“Pakistan has maintained a clear and consistent policy against terrorism while continuing efforts to promote regional peace and stability,” Tarar said, adding that “truth has prevailed and Pakistan’s stance has been vindicated at the global level.”
He also expressed confidence in Pakistan’s armed forces under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, saying they remain fully capable of responding to any future aggression.
Concluding his remarks, Tarar said the Kakul address had laid the foundation for a sustained diplomatic and strategic narrative that, according to him, has helped improve Pakistan’s international standing, including among overseas Pakistanis.
