India blames Pakistan for Pahalgam attack
During a strongly worded press conference on May 8, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri blamed Pakistan for raising tensions after the April 22 Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir terror attack that left several innocent civilians dead. The attack was described by Misri as the opening salvo for the ongoing conflict and condemned Pakistan’s top brass for openly admitting their nation’s past association with terrorism.
Pakistani ministers admit terror links
Misri referred to recent TV interviews of three top Pakistani officials Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and previous Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as evidence of the long history of Pakistan’s patronage of militant groups. Bhutto admitted to the nation’s previous association with terror groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Khawaja Asif went as far as to confess on record that Pakistan was involved in “dirty things,” while Dar objected to the United Nations Security Council’s reference to The Resistance Front (TRF), the organization that had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack.
India condemns Pakistan’s doublespeak
Misri criticized Islamabad’s seeming inconsistency disavowing the role in the Pahalgam attack while protesting the TRF’s condemnation in foreign communiques. He cautioned that Pakistan’s history of harboring terrorists has now been laid bare by its own ministers. He also criticized Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir for using Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and the divisive two-nation theory in his April 16 address.
India reaffirms strong stand
Apart from Misri, Col. Sofiya Qureshi, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, and MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal were also in attendance. They emphasized that India is on guard and will act accordingly to subsequent provocations, while going ahead to unveil Pakistan’s hypocrisy in endorsing terrorism on international platforms.
