ISLAMABAD:

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday marked one year since what he described as the “Pahalgam false flag operation,” stating that India had failed to present evidence for its allegations against Pakistan over the Pahalgam attack.

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

He said India “has continued to portray its internal matters as external issues and external matters as internal ones,” asserting that terrorism is “India’s internal issue which it presents as an external problem.” In contrast, he described the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as “a recognised international issue that India portrays as an internal matter”.

Tarar further claimed that “false flag operations have been 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 investigation,” 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 “its text had already been 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 proof.” He accused Indian media of acting as a “propaganda tool,” saying it “created a war-like atmosphere” and broadcast “false and baseless news”.

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

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

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

Tarar warned that any “misadventure” by India would receive an “immediate, effective and decisive response,” and said Pakistan would not compromise on 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 safeguard national security.

Pahalgam attack

Escalation between Pakistan and India began on April 22, 2025, when an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. India immediately blamed Pakistan for the incident. However, Pakistan categorically rejected the Indian blame.

In response, India undertook a series of hostile actions the next day, on April 23, 2025, including suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), cancelling visas for Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing, ordering the shutdown of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, and reducing diplomatic staff at each other’s embassies.

Tensions further escalated in the early hours of May 7, 2025, when missile strikes hit six cities 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 May 10, 2025, when India targeted several Pakistani airbases with missile strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, damaging Indian military installations, including missile storage sites, airbases, and other strategic targets.

On May 10, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached following intense diplomatic efforts overnight. Minutes later, the agreement was confirmed separately by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Indian foreign secretary.