ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the National Security Committee (NSC) will convene on Thursday (today) to formulate Pakistan’s response to India’s recent actions following the deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The incident in Pahalgam claimed at least 26 lives and injured 17 others after gunmen opened fire at a popular tourist destination. In the wake of the attack, India has taken several aggressive measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and imposing a ban on Pakistani nationals from entering the country.
“The National Security Committee meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, will determine an appropriate response to India’s measures,” said Asif in a statement. He confirmed that the developments would be discussed in detail during Thursday’s session.
The Defence Minister emphasized that India lacks the authority to unilaterally withdraw from the Indus Waters Treaty, as the agreement also involves other stakeholders, including the World Bank. He cautioned that if India continues to act under internal political pressure, Pakistan is fully capable of responding, referencing the retaliatory actions taken during the Abhinandan episode.
Asif also accused India of attempting to exit the treaty for years, reiterating that Pakistan is ready to respond with full force if provoked.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar criticized India’s actions as “inappropriate and lacking seriousness,” pledging that Pakistan would issue a comprehensive and measured response following the NSC meeting.
“India has not presented any evidence linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack,” said Dar, adding that New Delhi’s reaction appears to be an unjustified attempt to externalize its internal challenges.
In a separate interview, Khawaja Asif reiterated Pakistan’s condemnation of terrorism in all forms. He described India’s allegations as baseless and suggested the possibility of a “false flag operation,” asserting that Pakistan, as a nation deeply scarred by terrorism, cannot be accused of promoting it.
“There should be no doubt that we condemn terrorism unequivocally,” said Asif, stressing the need for a credible investigation into the Pahalgam incident rather than hastily casting blame.
