On Friday, the Senate passed a unanimous resolution condemning India’s attempt to connect Pakistan to a recent deadly attack in Pahalgam, India-occupied Kashmir. This incident occurred at a popular tourist site, resulting in the death of 26 individuals, primarily from India, with one victim from Nepal, and left 17 others injured. The National Security Committee of Pakistan, during a meeting the previous day, urged India to cease its pattern of “reflexive blame” and to stop manipulating incidents like the Pahalgam attack for political gain.
The resolution, put forth by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, reiterated Pakistan’s determination and capability to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any form of aggression, including water terrorism and military challenges. It emphasized that the murder of innocent civilians contradicts the values upheld by Pakistan and categorically dismissed attempts to link the country to the Pahalgam attack, labeling them as “frivolous and baseless.
Furthermore, the Senate condemned what it described as an “orchestrated and mala fide campaign” by the Indian government aimed at tarnishing Pakistan’s image, which follows a recognized pattern of leveraging terrorist issues for narrow political objectives. It also criticized India for its unilateral and unlawful suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a move deemed a significant violation of international agreements and an act of war.
In retaliation to the Pahalgam attack, New Delhi introduced aggressive measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, a long-standing agreement brokered by the World Bank that has survived through conflicts and tensions. Additional steps taken by India involved closing its borders and scaling down diplomatic relations, citing alleged Pakistani support for cross-border terrorism, although no evidence was provided for these claims.
The Senate’s resolution signaled that Pakistan is adequately prepared to confront any acts of aggression, recalling its previous responses to Indian provocations in 2019, and assured that any future missteps by India would meet with a robust and immediate response. While asserting Pakistan’s commitment to peace, it also affirmed that the country would not tolerate any infringement on its sovereignty, security, and interests.
Lastly, the resolution called for accountability from India regarding its involvement in acts of terrorism and targeted killings within other nations, including Pakistan. It concluded with a strong reaffirmation of Pakistan’s support for the Kashmiri people’s quest for self-determination.
