Relations between India and Pakistan have sharply deteriorated following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 people dead.
India has squarely blamed Pakistan for the assault, while Islamabad has dismissed the accusation as baseless and labelled the incident a “false flag operation.”
According to a report published by Al Jazeera on 25 April, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claimed in an interview that the attack on tourists in Kashmir was a “pre-planned” event orchestrated to malign Pakistan.
“We strongly suspect this was a false flag operation—an attempt to commit an atrocity and pin the blame elsewhere,” said Asif.
However, he did not present any evidence to support this assertion.
Khawja Asif insisted there is no connection between Pakistan and any armed groups operating in Kashmir, asserting: “We have no ties to what is happening in Kashmir or with any Kashmiri movements. Pakistan is in no way affiliated with any militant group.”
Rejecting India’s accusations outright, Asif stated unequivocally, “I categorically deny the allegations made by the Indian government.”
Earlier, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had dismissed India’s actions as “childish and lacking seriousness” in a separate interview with a private television channel.
He added, “India blames Pakistan for every incident, and just like in the past, it is once again attempting to point fingers at us. We will respond appropriately in the upcoming talks—our response will not be meek.”
Tensions in the region have further escalated amid fears of retaliatory military action.
Islamabad has expressed concerns that India may consider launching strikes, and Pakistani authorities claim to be on high alert.
It is worth noting that since 1989, Indian-administered Kashmir has witnessed a protracted insurgency against Indian rule.
Many Kashmiri Muslims support the rebels, calling either for independence or a merger with Pakistan. India has long branded the movement as “Pakistan-sponsored terrorism,” whereas Pakistan maintains it is a legitimate struggle for self-determination.
The decades-long conflict has claimed thousands of lives, including civilians, rebels, and members of security forces, keeping South Asia’s nuclear-armed rivals on edge.
