Pakistan Willing to Engage in 'Neutral, Transparent, and Credible' Investigation into Pahalgam Terror Incident: PM Shehbaz Sharif
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Synopsis
On April 26, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared the country's willingness to engage in a neutral investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, amidst rising tensions with India. He emphasized Pakistan's commitment to defending its water rights and condemning terrorism while maintaining the readiness of its armed forces.
Key Takeaways
- Pakistan is open to a neutral investigation into the Pahalgam attack.
- PM Shehbaz dismissed India’s allegations as baseless.
- Water rights under the Indus Waters Treaty are vital for Pakistan.
- The nation has suffered significant losses due to terrorism.
- Pakistani armed forces are prepared to defend the country’s sovereignty.
Islamabad, April 26 (NationPress) The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, stated on Saturday that the nation is prepared to engage in any "neutral, transparent, and credible" investigation concerning the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which has escalated tensions between the two nations to a critical level. He made this declaration during a speech at the passing out parade at the Pakistan Military Academy (PML) in Kakul, Abbottabad.
PM Shehbaz emphasized, "Pakistan is open to participating in any neutral, transparent, and credible investigation," while dismissing India's accusations of Pakistan's role in cross-border terrorism linked to the unfortunate Pahalgam incident as baseless.
He remarked, "Our eastern neighbour continues a pattern of exploitation, levelling baseless allegations and false accusations without credible investigation and verifiable evidence. The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game which must come to a grinding halt," he stated.
Addressing India's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), PM Shehbaz conveyed that water is a crucial national interest for Pakistan. He warned that any initiative to halt or redirect river waters would be met with full force and might.
"Let there be no doubt at all, its availability would be safeguarded at all costs and under all circumstances. Any attempt to stop, reduce, or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) would be responded to with full force and might," he affirmed.
The Prime Minister asserted that Pakistan has consistently condemned terrorism and has stood as a frontline state against it.
"Pakistan has always condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We have suffered 90,000 casualties and economic losses exceeding $600 billion," he declared.
He added that the Pakistani armed forces are "ready and capable" to protect the nation's territorial integrity.
"Our valiant armed forces remain fully capable and prepared to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity against any misadventure as clearly demonstrated by a measured, yet resolute response to India's reckless incursions in February 2019," he noted.
Pakistan's willingness to accept an open investigation into the Pahalgam incident may provide a slim opportunity for de-escalation of tensions between the two nuclear-armed adversaries.
In the past, Pakistan and India collaborated on a joint investigation into the 2016 Pathankot attack; however, this effort yielded no results that would convince New Delhi regarding credibility and transparency.
