Pahalgam Terror Attack: Pakistan has no connection

As Pakistan denies and deflects, India demands answers—read how geopolitics and grief collide in Kashmir.

A day after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that left at least 26 tourists dead and dozens injured, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif denied any involvement by Pakistan-based groups, instead accusing India of fueling unrest within its territory. As tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours flare once again, Islamabad has attempted to deflect blame amid international scrutiny.

Pahalgam Massacre Sparks Global and Domestic Outcry

On April 22, terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists at the Baisaran meadow, a serene spot near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, known for its alpine views and tranquility. Nearly 30 people were killed in what has become one of the most devastating civilian-targeted attacks in the region in years.

The attack forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cut short a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and return to New Delhi. No official Indian statement has directly accused Pakistan of orchestrating the attack, but domestic anger and public sentiment point clearly towards cross-border terror outfits.

Pakistan Defence Minister: ‘No Link to Attack’

Speaking to Pakistan’s Live 92 news channel, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif insisted that Pakistan had “no connection” with the Pahalgam attack. He went further to characterize the violence in Jammu and Kashmir as “home-grown,” calling it a “revolution” against the Indian state.

“This is all home-grown,” Asif claimed. “There are revolutions in different so-called states against India—from Nagaland to Kashmir, in Chhattisgarh and Manipur. People are asking for their rights.”

He argued that such movements stem from repression by what he termed “Hindutva forces” and accused India of violating the rights of certain religious and regional communities.

Foreign Ministry Stops Short of Condemnation

Pakistan’s foreign ministry, in an official statement, expressed “concern” over the loss of lives but notably stopped short of condemning the attack or labeling it as terrorism. The statement referred to Jammu and Kashmir as “Indian illegally occupied territory,” reaffirming Pakistan’s long-standing stance on the region.

“We are concerned at the loss of tourists’ lives in an attack in Anantnag district… We extend our condolences to the near ones of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” the spokesperson said.

The language and tone of the statement, viewed by many as subdued and ambiguous, drew criticism within India, where leaders demanded stronger global condemnation of terrorism.

Asif Accuses India of Sponsoring Unrest in Pakistan

Turning the tables, Asif accused India of being the actual sponsor of cross-border instability. He claimed that New Delhi is behind unrest in Pakistan’s Balochistan province and other regions, citing what he called “daily evidence” of Indian involvement.

“We have provided evidence on many occasions of India’s role in sponsoring unrest in Balochistan… whether through Afghanistan or elsewhere,” Asif said.

While Pakistan has often made such allegations, India has consistently denied them, asserting that Pakistan is attempting to deflect attention from its support for terror networks operating in Kashmir.

Context: Relations at Historic Low Since 2019

India-Pakistan relations have remained frozen since August 2019, when the Indian government revoked Article 370, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. Pakistan responded by downgrading diplomatic ties and ramping up anti-India rhetoric on international platforms.

Since then, both nations have frequently traded accusations over cross-border terrorism and alleged human rights violations. India maintains that Kashmir is an internal matter, and that Pakistan has no locus standi in the region.

No Condemnation, Only Deflection

The lack of an explicit condemnation of the Pahalgam attack from Pakistan has not gone unnoticed. Indian observers and political analysts see Islamabad’s evasive language and denial of involvement as part of a larger pattern of shielding militant groups and avoiding international accountability.

Security experts also note that The Resistance Front (TRF), which claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack, is a well-known proxy of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—a group based in Pakistan and designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations.

Conclusion: Blame Game Amid Grief and Anger

As families of the victims mourn their loss, political blame games continue between New Delhi and Islamabad. While Pakistan distances itself from the tragedy and redirects accusations toward India, calls grow louder within India for a unified international stance against terrorism.

The Pahalgam massacre underscores the urgent need for genuine regional cooperation on security. But with both sides locked in long-standing distrust, the path forward remains unclear—and fraught with danger.