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Saturday, 26 April, 2025 I 27 Shawwal, 1446
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 289 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
PAKISTAN’S PARLIAMENT REJECTS INDIA’S PAHALGAM ATTACK ALLEGATIONS, VOWS DECISIVE RESPONSE TO ANY MISADVENTURE PAHALGAM ATTACK
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UPPER HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES A RESOLUTION, SAYING PAKISTAN FULLY CAPABLE AND PREPARED TO RESPOND TO ANY AGGRESSION, INCLUDING WATER TERRORISM OR MILITARY PROVOCATION
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SHERRY REHMAN SAYS PAKISTAN IS A NUCLEAR POWER AND THE ENTIRE NATION IS UNITED TO RESPOND TO ANY AGGRESSION
SHIBLI FARAZ SAYS INDIA ALWAYS TRIED TO HURT INTERESTS OF PAKISTAN, REMAIN INVOLVED IN ACTS OF TERRORISM ISLAMABAD
SALEEM JADOON
ENATE, the Upper House of Pakistan’s Parliament, on Friday passed unanimously a resolution rejecting India’s allegations linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), vowing a decisive response to any Indian misadventure. “Indian allegations are baseless and politically motivated and Pakistan is capable enough to give a swift and decisive response to any misadventure from across the border,” The resolution, moved by
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, stated that Pakistan remains fully capable and prepared to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any aggression, including water terrorism or military provocation. The attack in Pahalgam, a tourist hotspot in India-occupied Kashmir, took place on April 22 wherein the gunmen opened fire on visitors, killing at least 26 people — all men from across India except one from Nepal — and injuring 17 others. Yesterday, during a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) in Islamabad, the committee called on India to “refrain from its
Trump confident Pakistan, India will ‘figure out’ tensions WASHINGTON AGENCIES
United States President Donald Trump on Friday expressed hope that Pakistan and India would “figure out” the rising tensions between them as both countries imposed titfor-tat diplomatic measures over a deadly attack in occupied Kashmir. The attack took place in Pahalgam, a tourist hotspot in India-occupied
Kashmir that draws thousands of visitors every summer. Gunmen opened fire on visitors, killing at least 26 people — all men from across India except one from Nepal — and injuring 17 others. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said in response to a question about the situation that tensions between the nations had existed for “1,500 years, so you know, the same as it’s been”.
reflexive blame game and cynical, staged managed exploitation of incidents like Pahalgam to further its narrow political agenda”. The Senate emphasised that the killing of innocent civilians is contrary to the values upheld by Pakistan, according to the resolution. 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 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”. The resolution also highlighted Pakistan’s strong response to India’s actions in February 2019 and reiterated the nation’s commitment to peace while protecting its security and interests. The resolution also condemned India’s unlawful and unilateral declaration to hold Indus Water Treaty in abeyance saying it is a blatant violation of the treaty and amounts to an act of war.
NEW YORK
“The Secretary-General is obviously following the situation very closely and with very great concern,” his Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said in response to a question at the regular noon briefing at UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday. According to media reports, about 26 people were killed in the gun attack that took place near Pahalgam, a tourist resort in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.
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UN chief calls for ‘maximum restraint’ AGENCIES
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed to Pakistan and India to “exercise maximum restraint”, and to ensure that the situation and the developments, which have taken place following the armed attack in Indian-Illegally Occupied Kashmir on Tuesday, does not deteriorate any further.
Amit Shah orders to expel Pakistanis as Pahalgam FIR doubts Indian narrative NEW DELHI
AGENCIES
Indian authorities continued with its swept escalating moves following the April 22 attack in Pahalgam and have suspended all visas issued to Pakistani nationals, directed the deportation of Pakistanis residing in India. A day earlier, New Delhi had formally announced holding the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a high-level security meeting on Friday, following which chief ministers of all states were instructed to “identify and remove” Pakistani citizens from their respective states. The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier announced the immediate suspension of visa services for all Pakistani nationals, with those on medical visas granted a grace period until April 29. The measures followed what Indian officials have described as a terrorist attack targeting Hindu tourists at the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occu-
Pakistan’s military ‘prepared for any eventuality’ amid growing diplomatic tensions: Asif ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has drawn the international community ‘s attention towards the growing tensions between India and Pakistan, saying that the world should be “worried” about the potential for a full-scale conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations. The minister warned that tensions with India over a deadly shooting in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) could escalate into an “all-out war”, in an interview with British Sky News. The warning follows the deadly gun attack in the IIOJK, where 26 tourists were shot dead at a scenic location in the Pahalgam area. The victims included one Nepali national. India’s government has blamed Pakistan for the attack, a claim that Islamabad vehemently denied and also termed as a “false flag operation”. Asif stressed that Pakistan’s military was “prepared for any eventuality” amid growing diplomatic tensions. “We will measure our response to whatever is initiated by India. It would be a measured response,” he said. “If there is an all-out
attack or something like that, then obviously there will be an all-out war.” However, he expressed hope that the situation could still be resolved through negotiations. When asked whether the global community should be concerned, the defence minister responded in affirmative. “The clash between two nuclear powers is always worrisome… If things get wrong, there could be a tragic outcome of this confrontation.” Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to pursue those behind the attack “to the ends of the Earth.” When asked whether he blamed India for the shooting, Asif said: “Yeah, absolutely. They create these situations.” Despite the rising tensions, he added: “We should be solving our problems through negotiations.” Earlier, Asif said that Pakistan has absolutely nothing to do with it, as Pakistan rejects terrorism in all its forms and everywhere. He said that India should investigate the Pahalgam incident as merely levelling allegations won’t absolve them of responsibility. In a blatant response to the Pahalgam attack, India announced the unilateral decision to suspend the six-decade-old Indus Water Treaty and
India’s water aggression threatens regional peace: FO ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) on Friday described India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty a serious threat to regional peace and stability. Addressing his weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Friday, FO Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan informed journalists about India’s recent decision concerning the water-sharing agreement between the two countries.
also taking other steps against Pakistan in the aftermath of an attack on tourists in the occupied territory. To counter India’s controversial measures taken by the government in New Delhi, the National Security Committee (NSC) warned that any move by India to divert the flow of water lawfully belonging to Pakistan will be “considered an act of war”. The NSC convened on Thursday warned: “Any attempt to stop or divert the
The spokesperson stated that India cannot unilaterally revoke the Indus Waters Treaty, and any attempt by India to block Pakistan’s water will be treated as an act of war. He added that the National Security Committee has given a strong response to India’s actions, and all movement through the Wagah Border has now been suspended. Furthermore, the number of Indian High Commission staff in Pakistan has been reduced to 30.
flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty, and the usurpation of the rights of lower riparian will be considered as an act of war and responded with full force across the complete spectrum of national power.” Pakistan decided to close all Indian land transit via Wagah Border, closed its airspace for all commercial Indian aerial traffic and capped the Indian High Commission’s staff to 30 persons among other key decisions.
pied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Twenty-five Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen were killed, while multiple others were wounded. On Wednesday, the Indian Cabinet Committee on Security approved a series of retaliatory actions. These include shutting down the Attari land transit point, advising Indian nationals against travelling to Pakistan, and formally notifying Islamabad of the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. In response, Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) on Thursday warned that any attempt by India to block water flow into Pakistan would be treated as an act of war. The statement followed a high-level NSC meeting, which also approved the closure of the Wagah border crossing. On Friday, the Senate of Pakistan unanimously passed a resolution rejecting India’s allegations linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack, calling them baseless and politically motivated. FIR of Pahalgam attack casts doubt on New Delhi’s claims
Analysts warn of nuclear risk as India suspends Indus treaty KARACHI
NEWS DESK
India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) following the Pahalgam attack in occupied Kashmir has triggered sharp warnings from Pakistan, which says any move to block or divert its water share will be treated as an act of war. In a statement after Thursday’s National Security Committee (NSC) meeting, Islamabad declared it would use all conventional and non-conventional means to safeguard its water rights. The IWT, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allocates the use of the Indus River system between India and Pakistan and has long served as a rare example of cooperation between the two countries. India’s Cabinet Committee on Security announced the suspension of the treaty after blaming Pakistan for the April 22 attack that killed 26 people in Pahalgam. Analysts say this move may allow India to accelerate hydropower and storage projects previously challenged by Pakistan under the treaty. In the short term, India could halt sharing hydrological data, posing a serious flood risk during the upcoming monsoon season. Pakistan’s NSC reiterated that any infringement on its water rights would trigger a response “across the complete spectrum of national power.” Security experts suggested this includes potential use of nuclear weapons if India constructs any facility to disrupt Pakistan’s water supply.
Four FC personnel martyred, three injured in Quetta IED explosion QUETTA
STAFF REPORT
At least four Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were martyred and three others injured in an explosion near a bomb disposal squad in the Margate area of Quetta, the police and security sources said on Friday. The police officials confirmed that the bomb disposal squad of the security forces was targeted with an improvised explosive device in a Quetta suburb. “As a result of the explosion, four FC personnel were martyred and three others were injured,” they said, adding that the injured were immediately shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH). The police officials stated that the martyred included Subedar Shahzad Amin, Naib Subedar Abbas and Sepoy Khalil and Sepoy Zahid. In addition to the fatalities, Lance Naik Zafar, Lines – Naik Farooq and Sepoy Khurram Saleem sustained wounds and were rushed to hospital immediately. The security sources confirmed the casualties and provided details on the incident. Following the explosion, security forces swiftly cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to locate the suspects responsible for the attack. Authorities have vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The blast marks the latest in a series of attacks on security forces in Balochistan, which has been facing a rising tide of insurgent activities in recent months. “An improvised explosive device (IED) was planted along the route being used for the transportation of coal from the Marget coalfield which exploded when the bomb disposal wing of the Frontier Corps was busy with security clearance of the route,” Quetta Deputy Commissioner Saad bin Asad told Arab News. “Four soldiers of the BD wing were killed and three wounded in the attack,” he added. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion is likely to fall on militants groups who frequently target security forces, ethnic Punjabi commuters and laborers in the restive province. Separately, a statement from the Counter-Terrorism Department spokesperson said nine alleged militants, wanted by security forces in various terrorism cases, were killed in a fire exchange in Pishin’s Khanai Baba area. It added that arms and ammunition were recovered from them. Militant violence surged alarmingly in the country in March, with the number of militant attacks surpassing 100 for the first time since November 2014, according to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict
and Security Studies (Picss). The think tank reported 105 militant attacks during the month, resulting in 228 fatalities, including 73 security personnel, 67 civilians, and 88 militants. Additionally, 258 people were injured, comprising 129 security personnel and an equal number of civilians. Pakistan ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025, with the number of deaths in terrorist attacks rising by 45 per cent over the past year to 1,081. President Asif Ali Zardari “condemned the Quetta blast and expressed condolences over the loss of life”, according to a statement from the President’s House. “The president pays tribute to martyred FC soldiers for their services in defending the country,” the statement said, adding that he reiterated the national resolve to eradicate terrorism. “The entire nation salutes its martyrs and acknowledges their sacrifices,” it quoted President Zardari as saying. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack in Quetta. In a post on X, the interior ministry said that the minister expressed “sympathies and condolences to the families of martyred FC soldiers”, and prayed for the recovery of injured personnel. “The FC personnel attained the great status of martyrdom,” the post read. “We salute
the sacrifice of the brave sons of FC.” The minister also described the incident as a “heinous conspiracy” by the enemy to “create instability in the country by carrying
out such cowardly acts”. “The sacrifices of FC soldiers for the establishment of peace in Balochistan will always be remembered,” he added.
RAWALPINDI
was being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area. “The security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country.” Pakistan has been grappling with an alarming surge in terror activities over the past year, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire in November 2022. Militant violence and security operations intensified in in March, with the number of militant attacks surpassing 100 for the first time since November 2014, according to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies. Pakistan ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025, with the number of deaths in terrorist attacks rising by 45 per cent over the past year to 1,081.
Six terrorists neutralized, 4 injured in Bannu operation: ISPR STAFF REPORT
Six terrorists were killed and four others injured in fire exchange with the security forces during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu District, the military’s media wing said on Friday. According to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), “On the reported presence of the terrorists, the security forces conducted an IBO in Bannu district.” “During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location and after an intense fire exchange, six khwarij were sent to hell, while four khawrij got injured,” the statement said. It added that a sanitisation operation