Foreign minister challenges India’s narrative on the Pahalgam incident, accusing New Delhi of inventing stories without any solid evidence against Pakistan
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar, has strongly rejected India’s assertion that it provided prior warning before recent cross-border attacks, calling the claim baseless and lacking any credible evidence. Dar expressed confusion over whom Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was purportedly informing about such warnings, emphasizing that no official communication had reached Pakistan.
Dar struck a cautious yet firm tone regarding the fragile ceasefire between the two countries. While expressing hope that the ceasefire will continue, he warned that any further aggression from India would be met with a decisive and strong response. His remarks underline the tense atmosphere lingering on the borders despite diplomatic efforts to ease hostilities.
Challenging India’s narrative about the Pahalgam incident, Dar accused New Delhi of fabricating stories and failing to provide concrete proof of Pakistan’s involvement. He dismissed Indian claims of shooting down a Pakistani F-16 during the crisis, stating that Pakistan had not deployed its jets at that time, rendering the Indian assertion unfounded.
Highlighting the measured restraint shown by Pakistan’s armed forces during heightened tensions, Dar said Islamabad responded firmly only to hostile moves, including diplomatic provocations by India. He noted that while Indian media stirred public emotions following Pahalgam, Pakistan had proactively communicated with several countries that it would not be the first to initiate conflict, underscoring Pakistan’s desire for peace despite provocations.
Dar further disputed India’s claim that Pakistan struck 15 targets, insisting that no such attacks had been launched by Pakistan at that stage. He referenced confirmation from a Western country supporting Pakistan’s account of events, reinforcing Islamabad’s position of innocence in the escalation.
Ending on a note of guarded optimism, Dar stated that the ceasefire between Pakistan and India remains in place but cautioned that any escalation by India would prompt Pakistan to respond firmly to defend its sovereignty. His comments reflect the delicate balance Islamabad seeks to maintain amid persistent regional volatility and diplomatic tensions.
