Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif calls for “neutral investigation” into Pahalgam attack

He said that Pakistan is ready for a neutral investigation into the recent Pahalgam attack.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed stern action against the perpetrators of the heinous Pahalgam terror attack that happened on April 22. He spoke about taking stern action against the “those who conspired” toward the Kashmir attack. Now, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif has called for a “neutral investigation” into the Pahalgam attack.

Pakistan PM calls for neutral investigation into Pahalgam attack.

On Saturday, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif said that Islamabad is ready for a “neutral investigation” into the deadly terror attack that happened in Pahalgam on April 22, which killed the lives of 26 Indian civilians, mostly tourists and left many others injured. Addressing a ceremony at a military academy in Abbottabad, Sharif said, “Pakistan is open to participating in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation.” He also asserted that Pakistani forces remain “fully capable and prepared to defend the country’s sovereignty and its territorial integrity against any misadventure as clearly demonstrated by its measured yet resolute response to India’s reckless incursion in February 2019.” His remarks come after Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told the New York Times that Islamabad was “ready to cooperate” with any investigation conducted by “international inspectors.”

India announces stringent measures against Pakistan.

In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, India announced stringent measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. New Delhi also closed the integrated checkpoint at the Attari border. They also brought down the overall strength of the Pakistani high commissions in India. All Pakistani nationals who entered India via the Attari land border were asked to leave by May 1. Meanwhile, Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif claimed that India used the terror attack as a pretext to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty for “domestic political purposes.” He added that New Delhi has punished Islamabad “without any proof and investigation.” He told NYT, “We do not want this war to flare up because flaring up of this war can cause disaster for this region.”