Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed Pakistan’s deep concern about rising tensions in South Asia after the Pahagam event in India during a telephone conversation with his Malaysian colleague, Date ‘Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

PM Shehbaz firmly rejected India’s “baseless” attempts to connect Pakistan to the incident and emphasized that no evidence had been shared to support the claims. “Pakistan is repeating his offer to an international, transparent, credible and neutral investigation,” he said, adding that Pakistan would welcome Malaysia’s participation to the study.

He emphasized that Pakistan has consistently condemned terrorism in all forms and has played a critical role in the global terrorist efforts. “India’s provocative actions distract Pakistan from tackling the most important security challenges along its western border,” he warned.

PM said it was “unthinkable” for Pakistan to be involved in such an incident, especially at a time when the country is recovering from an economic crisis and working towards stability.

Both leaders also discussed the strengthening of Pakistan-Malaysia-tapes and confirmed their obligation to elaborate on cooperation in trade, investment and cultural exchange. PM Shehbaz expressed hope of making an official visit to Malaysia later this year.

The conversation, Pakistani officials said, highlighted the sustained friendship and close coordination between the two countries, where both leaders agreed to remain engaged in regional and international affairs.