Pakistan Prime Minister Shakhbaz Sharif announced the country’s readiness to take part in any “neutral and transparent” investigation of the attack that occurred on April 22 in Pakhalgam in the Part Dia and Kashmir guided by India. This was reported by the Dawn newspaper.
Speaking at the military parade in the Kakul region, the Sharif accused India of “unreasonable accusations and claims” against Pakistan. He emphasized that Pakistan as a responsible state is open to participate in any independent and objective verification of the incident.
Sharif also warned that Islamabad would respond to any attempts to intervene in access to water resources provided by Pakistan under the “Indian waters”, calling access to the water “vital national interest”.
The Minister of Defense of Pakistan Hawaja Muhammad Asif in an interview with the American newspaper New York Times confirmed the country’s readiness for cooperation with international investigators. He accused India of an attempt to use the attack as a preposition for suspension of the “Indus Waters”, without providing evidence of Pakistan’s involvement.
“We do not want the escalation of war, as this can turn into a catastrophe for the region,” Asif emphasized.
Earlier, the Indian army reported a shootout between the troops of the two countries on the line of control in Jamma and Kashmir. According to the military, there are no victims as a result of clashes. On the eve, small shootings were also recorded along the control line.
April 22 in Pakhalgama, armed faces opened fire on tourists, as a result of which 26 people were killed and many were injured. India accused Pakistan’s attack and suspended the “Indian waters Treaty” in response, sent Pakistani diplomats and stopped issuing visas to Pakistan citizens.
Pakistan rejected the accusations, limited the number of Indian diplomats in Islamabad, said that any intervention in water resources will be considered as an act of war, suspended trade with India and closed its airspace.