Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has briefed Islamabad-based ambassadors on Indian aggression against Pakistan, emphasizing that Islamabad outright rejects Indian claims of hitting terrorist infrastructure in the country.
Stressing that Pakistan has routinely rejected Indian claims about the presence of terrorist camps on its territory, he noted that international media visited the sites of some of the so-called “terrorist camps” on May 6 and found no evidence of India’s assertions.
Referring to the Indian attacks on various cities of Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir from May 6-7, he said the strikes had violated the country’s sovereignty and endangered regional peace and stability. “These unprovoked and unjustified attacks deliberately targeted the civilian areas—on the false pretext of terrorist infrastructure—resulting in the martyrdom of innocent men, women and children,” he said, adding 26 people had died and 46 others injured.
“The deliberate targeting of civilians, including innocent women and children, is a heinous and shameful crime,” he said, adding attacking places of worship was also a reprehensible step. Additionally, Dar reiterated that India had endangered commercial flight operations, risking the lives of thousands, and targeted the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project in violation of international conventions. “The action assumes significance in the context of India’s decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and the attendant rhetoric regarding water flows to Pakistan,” he added.
Emphasizing that Pakistan “unequivocally” condemned such illegal actions as a blatant violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, he warned that these manifestly constitute acts of war under international law. “It is most unfortunate that India’s reckless conduct has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict,” he said, adding India’s war hysteria should be a source of serious concern for the world.
Reiterating that India had used the Pahalgam attack as a pretext to advance its sham narrative of victimhood, jeopardizing regional peace, he rejected any attempt to link the attack with Pakistan, noting Delhi had yet to provide any evidence of its allegations. He also noted that India had yet to formally respond to Pakistan’s proposal of a transparent and independent probe into the tragic incident.
Noting that several countries, as well as the U.N. and OIC, had called for restraint, he said it was deplorable that India did not pay heed to these calls. “We have been apprising our international partners of India’s mal-intentions during the last two weeks. The Indian actions of the last night demonstrate that our concerns were genuine,” he said, adding in accordance with Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, Pakistan reserves the right to respond to Indian aggression, at a time and place of its choosing.
“The international community should hold India accountable for its irresponsible, unlawful and belligerent conduct,” he added.