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Transcript of the Press Briefing by the Spokesperson on Friday, 09 May 2025

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Assalam-o-Alaikum,

Welcome to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I welcome you all at the weekly press briefing.

We all are aware of the recent tensions in Pakistan-India relations. India has been violating Pakistan's sovereignty since 7 May 2025. Condemnably, the Indian strikes against Pakistan haven dangered the regional peace and stability.

Pakistan unequivocally condemns these illegal acts. The Indian actions are a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, international law, and established norms governing the inter-state relations.

It is most unfortunate that India's reckless conduct has brought the two nuclear-armed states closer to a major conflict. India's jingoism and war hysteria should be a source of serious concern for the world.

South Asia is home to over one-fifth of the world population. It can ill-afford the irresponsible actions like the ones being carried out by India.

In the wake of Pahalgam attack, the Indian leadership has once again used the bogey of terrorism to advance its sham narrative of victimhood, jeopardizing regional peace. We once again reject any attempt to link the Pahalgam Attack with Pakistan.

A number of countries had called for exercise of restraint during the last two weeks. The international organizations like the United Nations and Organization of Islamic Cooperation had also counseled the same. It is highly deplorable that India did not pay heed to these calls. The international community should hold India accountable for its irresponsible, unlawful and belligerent conduct.

Yesterday, the Foreign Secretary of India made a number of accusations against Pakistan in a special press briefing. I wish to set the record straight in regard to the points raised by him.

First, the assertion that Pakistan escalated the situation through the Pahalgam Attack of 22 April 2025 is totally absurd. Till date, India has not been able to produce any credible and verifiable evidence of Pakistan's involvement in the attack. To the contrary, the acts of aggression committed by India's armed forces had the approval and support of its entire government. Thus, it is India that has escalated the situation by violating Pakistan's sovereignty and killing civilians. The Pakistani forces did not attack Pahalgam but the Indian forces did attack multiple locations in Pakistan. Accordingly, Pakistan reserves the right to take all appropriate measures in its self-defence, as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Second, on 26 April 2025, the Prime Minister of Pakistan proposed a transparent and independent probe into Pahalgam Attack through neutral investigators. However, India chose the path of belligerence and aggression. We are amazed to see the importance that the Indian Government attaches to the anonymous and dubious social media posts, upon which it has built the case for The Resistance Front's involvement in the Pahalgam Attack. Can any country in the world be allowed to attack another country on the basis of a few social media posts? India is attempting to act as a judge, jury and executioner.

Third, the investigations in the Mumbai and Pathankot could not make progress due to India's non-cooperative attitude. For past several years, we have been asking the Indian side for physical appearance of the 27 key witnesses of the Mumbai Attacks case before the trial court in Islamabad. However, India remains reluctant to send them to Pakistan, even today. As a result, the judicial proceedings remain stalled.

Fourth, while India portrays itself as a victim of terror, it conveniently ignores its own role in planning, sponsoring and abetting terrorism in Pakistan. It is no secret that India's network of targeted assassination and other subversive activities has gone global. Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, a serving officer of Indian Navy, is a living proof of the Indian state's involvement in terror, subversion and espionage in Pakistan.

At this occasion, I should also remember the victims of Samjhota Express tragedy in which over 40 Pakistani citizens were killed by Hindu extremists. Most regrettably, the culprits behind this tragedy, who had links with India's ruling dispensation, were acquitted. We are fully justified to ask whether the victims of Samjhota Express tragedy children of a lesser god?

Fifth, the Indian claims of targeting the terrorists or terrorist infrastructure only, are patently false. It is a matter of record that the Indian strikes resulted in martyrdom of civilians, including women and children. It also a matter of public knowledge that some mosques were destroyed or damaged during the Indian aggression. Similarly, parts of the Neelum Jhelum Hydroelectric Project were damaged due to the Indian shelling, which is inter alia, a violation of international conventions. We are well within our right to demand that India should be held accountable for these crimes.

Sixth, the Indus Waters Treaty has been a successful water-sharing arrangement between the two neighboring states. The Treaty withstood tests of wars and stand-offs. However, the current Indian dispensation is bent upon weaponizing water. Holding in abeyance of IWT is unilateral and illegal. There are no such provisions in the treaty. This action shows India's blatant disregard for the sanctity of international treaties. It sets a dangerous precedent. It strikes at the fundamental pillar of the regional cooperation with profound implications for regional and global stability. Pakistan is an agrarian economy. Millions of people are dependent on the waters being regulated by this Treaty. The Indian decision is equivalent to an attack on the people of Pakistan, and its economy.

For Pakistan, the Indian announcement is of no legal consequence. The Treaty remains in force and fully binding on parties.

The Indian allegations of Pakistan's refusal to enter into government to government negotiations are also incorrect. Pakistan has been continuously engaged with India on the subject.

Last but not the least, we particularly regret the Indian Foreign Secretary's indecent and undiplomatic remarks that Pakistan has been in the habit of lying since its creation in 1947. We expected better from a diplomat of his status. It is most unfortunate that, nowadays, India's ruling dispensation is trying to re-write history, making a number of absurd claims. India's founding fathers must be turning in their graves. We wish to remind them that it was India that took the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to the United Nations. Today, how can it renege from its own commitments made to the United Nations, to Pakistan and above all, to the Kashmiri people.

In fact, India remains a permanent factor of instability in the region owing to its hegemonic ambitions. It has constantly been working to destabilise its smaller neighbours and has stonewalled all efforts to promote regional cooperation.

I thank you.

***

(Shaukat Piracha, AAJ News): Sir, how do you assess the war hysteria created by Indian media, especially last night?

Spokesperson:Piracha Saab, the conduct of Indian media last night was extremely irresponsible and jingoistic. And frankly, disinformation is one thing, but the conduct of Indian media yesterday was indeed farcical. Encouraged by the Indian state, its media tried to create an alarming situation. The repeated pattern of levelling accusations against Pakistan, without any credible investigation, reflects a deliberate strategy to manufacture a pretext for aggression and to further destabilise the region. Such actions not only further endanger regional peace but also reveal a disturbing willingness to exploit misinformation for political and military ends.

(Anas Mallick, Capital TV): Since you mentioned about the Indus Waters treaty still being enforced, India has said that it has written a letter with regards to the suspension of the treaty. How does Pakistan have to respond on that?

Spokesperson: We have responded to the Indian letters by conveying that the treaty remains fully in force and is binding on the parties. There is no provision in the treaty to hold it in abeyance. And I may also repeat what I said in my opening remarks; the Indus Waters Treaty has been successful water sharing arrangement between the two neighbouring countries. The treaty has withstood tests of wars and standoffs. However, the current Indian dispensation is bent upon weaponizing water. Holding in abeyance of Indus water treaty is unilateral and illegal. There are no such provisions in the treaty. This section shows India's blatant disregard for the sanctity of international treaties. It sets a dangerous precedent. It strikes a fundamental pillar of regional cooperation with profound implications for regional and global stability. Pakistan is an agrarian economy. Millions of people are dependent on the water being regulated by this treaty. The Indian decision is equivalent to an attack on the people of Pakistan and its economy.

Islamabad
9 May 2025