Is Pakistan's 'False Flag' Claim on Pahalgam Attack Justified?

New Delhi, June 3 (NationPress) In a controversial move that has elicited strong reactions from Indian officials and security analysts, Pakistan has unveiled a 20-page dossier accusing India of staging a "false flag" operation in Pahalgam to rationalize its precision strikes under 'Operation Sindoor'.

In a notable shift in strategy aimed at altering the narrative, Pakistan's dossier largely draws on various Indian media reports, expert interviews, and public statements to substantiate its allegations. The document cites information from specific Indian news outlets, social media posts, and prominent journalists, quoting their analyses and remarks as proof that the Pahalgam terror attack might have been orchestrated by India itself. Pakistan has also included screenshots of interviews with these media figures in its dossier.

This approach appears to be an effort to depict the Indian military's retaliatory actions as premeditated aggression rather than a legitimate response to terrorism. However, many experts and officials in New Delhi view the incorporation of internal Indian commentary in an international accusation as a calculated attempt to "exploit domestic dissent for geopolitical gain". Indian officials and analysts have dismissed Pakistan's assertions of a false flag operation concerning the Pahalgam incident.

"This is a classic case of selective amplification. Pakistan has historically struggled to present credible evidence for its claims and now resorts to opinions from within India to construct its counter-narrative," remarked a security expert.

Indian authorities assert that the Pahalgam attack, which resulted in the brutal killing of civilians at close range, was an act of state-sponsored terrorism — an incident that crossed a critical line and necessitated a measured military response through Operation Sindoor. Officials contend that Pakistan's allegations lack forensic, technical, or international intelligence backing, relying solely on media conjecture.

Analysts further caution that this tactic of citing Indian voices may prove counterproductive, as it highlights a deficiency of independent evidence from Pakistan's end and reinforces a trend of employing narrative warfare instead of facts.

Even while the dossier attempts to undermine India's justification, it inadvertently validates the extent of damage inflicted by Indian strikes, enumerating 28 locations targeted by Indian forces — exceeding the 20 officially reported by Indian defense briefings — thereby weakening Islamabad’s prior denials of losses.

India continues to assert the legitimacy and necessity of Operation Sindoor, emphasizing that its actions were precise, proportionate, and directly responsive to cross-border terrorism.