Pakistan Senate passes resolution rejecting India's attempt to link Jammu and Kashmir terror attack to Islamabad

The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack, which marked the first major terror incident in the Valley since the Indian government scrapped Article 370 in 2019.

The resolution was moved in the Senate by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.

The resolution stated that Pakistan remains fully capable and prepared to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any aggression including water terrorism or military provocation, reported Dawn News.

It also “rejects all frivolous and baseless attempts to link Pakistan with the Pahalgam Attack of 22nd April 2025 in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir”, the newspaper reported.

The Senate further condemned “the orchestrated and mala fide campaign by the Indian government to malign Pakistan, which follows a familiar pattern of exploiting the issue of terrorism for a narrow political goal”.

It also condemned “India’s unlawful and unilateral declaration to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance in blatant violation of the Treaty, which clearly amounts to an act of war”.

Ishaq Dar Calls Pahalgam Terrorists 'Freedom Fighters'

Pakistan's Deputy PM Ishaq Dar has described those terrorists who attacked and killed tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday as 'freedom fighters'.

He remarked amid further escalation of tension between the already deteriorated ties between the nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan, following the attack on Baisaran meadows on Tuesday that left the country shocked and drew worldwide condemnation.

“Those who carried out attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam district on April 22 might be freedom fighters," Dar, who is also the Pakistani Foreign Minister, was quoted as saying by News 18.

'Dirty Works'

Pakistani Defence Minister Khwaja M Asif has admitted that his country has been doing the "dirty work" for the US and the West when a foreign journalist asked him if Islamabad has a history of funding and backing terror groups.

He commented after Sky News journalist asked her: "Do you admit, sir, that Pakistan has had a long history of backing and supporting and training and funding these terrorist organizations?"

He replied: "We have been doing this dirty work for the US for the past three decades, including the West and the United Kingdom."

Khwaja M Asif said doing it was a 'mistake' and Pakistan has suffered for it.

Asif said his country's track record would have been "unimpeachable" if Islamabad had not joined the West during the Soviet-Afghan war and the US-led war against the Taliban after 9/11.

Pahalgam Attack

The picturesque Baisaran meadow, which attracts thousands of tourists every year, echoed with the sounds of guns and the wails of victims on Tuesday afternoon when terrorists, who were apparently in camouflage, gunned down 26 people.

According to reports, terrorists asked the victims to chant Islamic verse and even pulled down their pants to check circumcision in a bid to confirm their Hindu identities and then opened fire on them.

A Nepali national was also killed in the attack.

Modi Promises Strong Retaliation

Promising a strong retaliation against Pakistan over one of the worst terror attacks that took place in the popular tourist spot in peak season of tourism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the terrorists and their backers will pay unimaginable costs for the attack on innocent tourists.

Addressing a rally in Bihar's Madhubani, Modi said: "From the soil of Bihar I tell the whole world that India will identify them and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the end of the earth. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished."

(With inputs from IBNS)