While addressing a joint news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, DG ISPR, Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, said that “We are fully prepared to retaliate against any Indian escalation”. They add that the entire region has been facing serious threats since 22 April to its peace and stability, a highly proactive environment created by India, a false flag operation in Pahalgam, Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.
Flanked by the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), DG ISPR, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson MOFA, Ishaq Dar said Pakistan condemned terrorism and all its forms and manifestations, taking the lives of innocent people, killing human beings was tantamount to killing the entire humanity.
“We are concerned about the loss of life during the Pahalgam attack. We also extend our condolences. Being a victim of terrorism itself, no one can feel the pain of those impacted by this scourge like Pakistan,” Dar said.
“The killing of innocent citizens cannot be tolerated under any circumstances,” Ishaq Dar added.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar clarified that Pakistan has nothing to do with the Pahalgam incident, and the allegations levelled by India are merely an attempt to divert attention from its security failures in Kashmir. He said that India is committing serious human rights violations, and baseless allegations are being levelled against Pakistan to hide the real situation there.
Ishaq Dar said that India is openly violating international laws by suspending the Indus Water Treaty, and if even a drop of Pakistan’s water is stopped, it will be considered a declaration of war. He added that India is deliberately making the situation serious in the region and is using various incidents for nefarious political purposes.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that Pakistan condemns all forms of terrorism, and has sacrificed more than 80,000 lives in the war against terrorism. Islam says that “saving the life of one human being is like saving the life of the entire humanity” — this is our national and Islamic policy.
He said that in the war against terrorism, Pakistan not only worked together with the international community but also played the role of a frontline state. India itself is involved in terrorism in many countries around the world, including Pakistan, while Pakistan has been a target of terrorism facilitated by India.
Ishaq Dar said that India uses propaganda to divert attention from real issues and hides its failures by blaming others. He stressed that we have to consider what the objectives of Indian propaganda.
He said that Pakistan is in touch with its friendly countries on the current situation and will expose India’s false narrative at every forum.
Dar said the National Security Committee had made it “very clear” that any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan, as per the IWT and the usurpation of the rights of the lower riparian, would be considered an “act of war”.
“Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism that has been planned, orchestrated, and sponsored by India,” said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. He added that, in this context, it is “preposterous to even suggest any form of Pakistani involvement in the [Pahalgam] incident.”
Spokesperson MOFA, Shafqat Ali Khan, said that eight days had passed, but they did not provide the evidence of the attack, but levelled allegations within minutes on Pakistan.
DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry strongly denied the baseless allegations levelled by India against Pakistan regarding the Pahalgam incident in a press conference. He said that the site of the Pahalgam incident is located 230 km from the Pakistani border, and it is a difficult mountainous area, which requires at least thirty minutes to reach. Despite this, the Indian media started propaganda against Pakistan immediately after the incident.
DG ISPR said that an FIR might have been registered in ten minutes. He added that the incident was immediately linked to Muslims, and allegations were made against Pakistan through a Twitter account, which was active a day earlier regarding the Mianwali incident.
DG ISPR also said that the Indian media created a false narrative based on the video of the zip line operator, which was far from the truth. India blamed Pakistan without any solid evidence, which is part of Indian propaganda.
The Pakistan Army spokesperson made it clear that blaming will not work, the Indian government will have to answer these serious questions. He said that there are reports that dozens of Pakistanis have been arrested and kept in jails in India, and they are being targeted in fake police encounters. The DG ISPR revealed that we have evidence that a serving officer of the Indian Army is a handler of terrorists.
He added that India has been following the same strategy for the last 50 years — “Blame Pakistan, take its credit, and win the election”. Like the Pulwama incident, now the Pahalgam incident is also being used for political purposes. He said that India uses every incident in the same way to divert public attention from the real issues.
The DG ISPR said that India is promoting state terrorism in Pakistan and using social media as a weapon. He said that “there is no Islamic, Hindu or Christian terrorist, a terrorist has no religion”.
He said that the Pakistani armed forces are keeping a close watch on the situation, and any kind of misadventure will be responded to effectively.
He added that India has been following the same strategy for the last 50 years — “Blame Pakistan, take credit for it, and win elections.” Like the Pulwama incident, now the Pahalgam incident is also being used for political purposes. He said that India uses every incident in the same way to divert public attention from the real issues.
The DG ISPR said that India is promoting state terrorism in Pakistan and is using social media as a weapon. He said that “there is no Islamic, Hindu or Christian terrorist, a terrorist has no religion.”
He said that the Pakistani armed forces are keeping a close watch on the situation, and any kind of misadventure will be given an effective response.
Amid escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, the Pakistan Army has launched large-scale military exercises, signaling its readiness to respond to any potential misadventure by India.
According to security sources, the drills involve the deployment of tanks, artillery, infantry, and a range of small and heavy weaponry. These exercises are currently underway in key border areas including Sialkot, Narowal, Zafarwal, Shakargarh, and surrounding regions.
Security officials emphasized that Pakistan Army personnel remain resolute in their commitment to defend the homeland. “Every soldier stands ready to lay down his life to protect the country’s security and territorial integrity,” a source stated.
