The Foreign Office (Islamabad) strongly rejected the “baseless and misleading” statements made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his first visit to Indian-held Kashmir following the Pahalgam attack. Modi arrived in the region to inaugurate a strategic railway line. According to Indian news reports, he claimed that Pakistan attacked ‘insaniyat’ and ‘Kashmiriyat’ (representing humanity and the Kashmiri identity) during his visit.
He further accused Pakistan of being “the enemy of the poor’s bread and butter” and warned that anyone attempting to disrupt development in Indian-held Kashmir would have to “face Narendra Modi first.”
In response to Modi’s comments, the Foreign Office stated, “Pakistan firmly rejects the unfounded and deceptive remarks made by the Indian Prime Minister regarding the situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.” It emphasised that such statements are a “deliberate attempt to divert international attention from the severe and ongoing human rights violations occurring in a territory under foreign occupation.”
The FO expressed disappointment that Modi repeatedly accused Pakistan of involvement in the Pahalgam attack without presenting any credible evidence. It reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir remains a disputed territory recognised internationally, with its final status to be determined according to relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
The Foreign Office noted, “Claims of development in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir ring hollow against the backdrop of an unprecedented military presence, suppression of fundamental freedoms, arbitrary arrests, and a systematic effort to alter the region’s demographics in violation of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.”
It called on the international community, including the UN and human rights organisations, to hold India accountable for its abuses and to ensure that the Kashmiri people can exercise their inalienable right to self-determination, as recognised in relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The Foreign Office reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their rightful struggle for their rights and dignity. Modi’s visit came in the wake of recent military tensions between India and Pakistan, sparked by Delhi’s unsubstantiated claims against Islamabad regarding the deadly attack in Pahalgam.
