Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has issued a strong statement warning that the entire South Asian region is at risk due to India’s increasingly irresponsible and aggressive behaviour. He was addressing a joint press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, amid rising tensions between Pakistan and India following the Pahalgam incident.
Dar stated that the purpose of the press conference was to provide clarity on the current situation. Expressing sorrow over the loss of innocent lives in the Pahalgam attack, he reiterated that Pakistan strongly condemns all forms of terrorism, stating, “The killing of innocent civilians is reprehensible, and Pakistan is itself a victim of terrorism.”
He noted that the United Nations Security Council had also condemned the Pahalgam attack and urged the international community to take serious note of India’s destabilising actions. “India is deliberately escalating tensions in the region and has consistently been found behind terrorism in Pakistan and even in other countries. Rather than accusing others, India should look inward and address its own internal challenges,” he said.
Dar emphasised that Pakistan has no involvement in, nor stands to benefit from, the Pahalgam incident. He underlined Pakistan’s offer to assist in an impartial, international investigation — an offer India has rejected. “It is important to ask why incidents like this always occur in India just before a significant diplomatic visit. India was quick to accuse Pakistan within minutes of the attack without any evidence.”
On the issue of water, Dar criticised India’s attempt to unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. “There is no clause in the treaty that allows for unilateral suspension. The National Security Council has clearly stated that any attempt to block water will be considered an act of war.”
He added that the whole region had been thrown into instability because of India’s aggressive posture. “Pakistan will not be the one to escalate tensions, but if war is imposed upon us, we will respond with full force,” he warned.
Dar also accused India of trying to link the Kashmiri freedom struggle with terrorism and reiterated that the Pakistani military remains on high alert. “India uses such incidents for political gain. Water is the lifeline of 240 million Pakistanis — the world must question India’s motives and actions.”
Commenting on the FIR lodged immediately after the Pahalgam incident, Dar raised suspicion: “Pahalgam is 230 kilometres from the LoC and involves difficult terrain. How was an FIR filed within 10 minutes? That alone raises serious questions.”
He presented six questions to the international community regarding India’s conduct:
Is it not time to hold India accountable for the killings of civilians, including in Pakistan?
Shouldn’t there be a distinction between aggression and condolences for affected families?
Isn’t India using propaganda to justify possible military action?
Is India’s disregard for international law not a threat to regional peace?
Should the world not condemn India for rising religious intolerance and Islamophobia?
Are we ignoring the grave danger of conflict between nuclear-armed neighbours?
“A Terrorist Has No Religion” – DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry
At the same briefing, DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry directly addressed the Indian allegations, dismissing them as baseless and part of a pre-planned narrative. “We will deal with facts, not accusations,” he said. “Pahalgam is 230 kilometres from the Line of Control, through mountainous terrain. How could anyone have possibly travelled that distance and carried out such an attack within ten minutes?”
General Chaudhry pointed out that Indian narratives quickly shifted to label the incident as a terrorist attack by Muslims targeting Hindus — a framing that, he said, was both communal and strategically misleading. “Even the Prime Minister has questioned this dangerous narrative. Let us be clear: a terrorist has no religion.”
He further stated that the accusations against Pakistani intelligence agencies began surfacing just minutes after the incident. “Indian media, almost in unison, pushed the narrative that Pakistan was behind the attack. This was based on a manipulated video from a zipline operator, which was deliberately misused to manufacture a false account.”
The DG ISPR referenced a disturbing pattern in Indian propaganda. “We’ve seen this before — with the Jaffer Express attack too. The same social media account, linked to Indian interests, predicted the time and location of the attack just hours before it happened. Then, the same account begins pointing fingers, which are amplified by Indian media. This is not coincidence — it’s coordination.”
General Chaudhry concluded by stating that the questions being asked in Pakistan are now also being asked internationally. “The world is watching, and they’re beginning to understand the game India is playing.”
