Pakistan’s ISI behind Pahalgam attack says Ex-Army Chief

The Ex-Army Chief said that Pakistan and its intelligence agency ISI may have a role behind the heinous Pahalgam attack.

On Friday, former Army Chief General Shankar Roychowdhury (Retd) said that Pakistan and its intelligence agency ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) may have a role to play behind the heinous Pahalgam terror attack, which happened on Tuesday, April 22.

Ex-Army Chief General thinks ISI is behind the Pahalgam terror attack.

Roychowdhury believes that ISI is behind the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists and injured many others. He said that the attack happened due to “intelligence failure” and demanded accountability at the highest levels. Speaking to PTI, Roychowdhury, the nation’s 18th Army Chief, said, “I suspect intelligence failure. Somebody must answer for the lapses. There is definitely someone responsible for negligence, and they must be held accountable for the consequences.” He added that Pakistan and its intelligence agency ISI have a role behind the attack, saying, “There must be complacency somewhere. How did so many infiltrators manage to get through? This needs to be investigated.”

LeT claims the responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack.

The Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) proxy group, The Resistance Front (TRF), has claimed responsibility for the attack. On asking Roychowdhury about India’s diplomatic sanctions on Pakistan as an adequate response, he said, “The diplomatic steps taken are not enough. Resistance measures will have to be taken. What shape they take depends on us. Conventional measures would not be enough. We will have to react in kind; that is the only way I see it. We must retaliate by maintaining international diplomacy. Enough is enough.”

Talking about the possibility of an insider assisting the attackers, Roychowdhury said, “I am not suggesting that directly, but we must keep our eyes and ears open. Pakistan and the ISI have always played an active role. We have our own intelligence agency, RAW, and we must utilise it effectively.” Speaking about whether Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir’s statement on Kashmir acted as a catalyst for the terrorists, he said, “I think that is the only thing that works in Pakistan. Definitely, that worked as an impetus for terror outfits. I must say attacking civilians must not be done.”