“A year later, India failed to provide evidence of Pahalgam attack”, says Tarar

ISLAMABAD:

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday marked a year since what he described as the “Pahalgam false flag operation”, saying India had failed to provide evidence of its allegations against Pakistan over the Pahalgam attack.

In a special address, Tarar said the Pahalgam incident “reflects hollow thinking, illogical reasoning, false ego, arrogance and greed,” adding that India has not given satisfactory answers to questions raised about the attack.

He said that India “has continued to portray its internal affairs as external affairs and external affairs as internal,” and asserted that terrorism is “India’s internal matter which it presents as an external problem.” In contrast, he described the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as “a recognized international issue which India is portraying as an internal matter”.

Tarar further claimed that “false flag operations have been a part of India’s history,” and described the handling of the Pahalgam incident as “crude”. He said India did not respond positively when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered an “independent and impartial inquiry”, adding that “India’s refusal to hold an inquiry is proof that the Pahalgam incident was a false flag operation”.

Highlighting procedural concerns, he said the registration of a first information report (FIR) within 10 minutes of the incident indicated that “the text was already prepared”, calling the timing “unusual and surprising” given the distance between the attack site and the police station.

He added that “international media, Indian civil society, politicians and think tanks have also raised serious questions about the Pahalgam incident,” arguing that “it is extremely difficult to make baseless propaganda globally acceptable.”

According to Tarar, India has failed to build an effective narrative on the issue and has not presented “credible evidence or solid evidence.” He accused Indian media of acting as a “propaganda tool”, saying it “created a war-like atmosphere” and broadcast “fake and baseless news”.

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The minister also alleged that minorities in India face discrimination under what he described as a Hindutva ideology, claiming that Muslims face violence. He further stated that India “uses terrorism as a state policy” and has been involved in such incidents globally.

Citing the arrest of Kulbhushan Jadhav to expose India’s involvement in terrorism, Tarar claimed that Pakistan possesses “irrefutable evidence” of India’s role in terrorist activities in Pakistan, including incidents such as the Jaffar Express train attack and the Khuzdar incident.

He said Pakistan continues to confront terrorism with determination and take practical measures, adding that “the entire nation is united in its resolve to eliminate terrorism completely”.

Warning that any “mishap” by India would receive an “immediate, effective and decisive response”, Tarar said Pakistan would not compromise its sovereignty, dignity or security.

He concluded by stating that Pakistan has emerged globally as “a symbol of peace” and that the country’s political and military leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, remain united in efforts to protect national security.

Pakistan-India conflict

The latest escalation between Pakistan and India began on April 22 when an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. India immediately blamed Pakistan for the incident. However, Pakistan categorically denied the Indian blame.

In response, India undertook a series of hostile actions the day after on 23 April, including suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), canceling visas for Pakistani nationals, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing, ordering the closure of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, and downsizing each other’s diplomatic embassies.

Tensions further escalated in the early hours of May 7 when missile strikes hit six towns in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), destroying a mosque and killing dozens of civilians, including women, children and the elderly.

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In a swift military response, Pakistan’s armed forces shot down Indian warplanes, including three Rafale jets. The confrontation intensified again in the early hours of 10 May when India targeted several Pakistani air bases with missile strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, damaging Indian military installations, including missile sites, air bases and other strategic targets.

On May 10, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached after intense diplomatic efforts overnight. Minutes later, the agreement was confirmed separately by Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar and the Indian foreign minister.