Kakul, Abbottabad –
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that Pakistan is willing to participate in a “neutral, transparent, and credible” investigation into the Pahalgam attack, amid rising tensions with India.
Addressing cadets at the passing out parade of the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan’s firm stance on defending its sovereignty and warned New Delhi against miscalculations.
“Peace is our preference but must not be mistaken for weakness,” the prime minister said. “We will never compromise on the dignity and security of our nation.”
He stressed that the armed forces were fully capable and prepared to defend “every inch” of Pakistan’s territory against any act of aggression.
Responding to India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam attack, Shehbaz issued a stern warning that any attempts to block or divert Pakistan’s share of water would provoke a “full-force response,” calling water Pakistan’s “lifeline.”
Open to credible investigation Terming the Pahalgam incident as part of a broader pattern of violence and political blame games, Shehbaz said, “Pakistan is open to any neutral, transparent and credible investigation” into the attack. He condemned India’s “baseless allegations” lacking verifiable evidence and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
“Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan,” Shehbaz said, invoking the words of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. “Let there be no doubt, Pakistan shall continue to support the Kashmiri people till they achieve their rights through their great struggle and sacrifices.”
He also underlined Pakistan’s sacrifices in the global war on terror, citing over 90,000 casualties and $600 billion in economic losses over two decades.
Calls for international probe The prime minister’s remarks follow those of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who, in interviews with the New York Times and Sky News, reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to cooperate with any international investigation into the Pahalgam attack.
Asif rejected Indian accusations, stating that Lashkar-e-Taiba was “defunct” and had no operational network inside Pakistan. He warned that India appeared to be pursuing a policy of escalation “without any proof” and suggested the possibility of a “false flag” operation to justify unilateral actions, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
In his Sky News interview, Asif further cautioned that a full-scale conflict would trigger “all-out war,” urging the international community to recognize the serious risks.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has called on both Pakistan and India to exercise “maximum restraint” as tensions rise following the incident.
