Pakistan Open to Neutral Probe in Pahalgam Attack, Says PM Shehbaz Sharif

PM Shehbaz Sharif: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today said he his ready for a "neutral investigation" of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam where 26 people, including a Nepalese national, were gunned down.

Addressing the graduation ceremony at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakal, Pakistan PM Sharif that the country is open to taking part in a "credible" investigation, the report said.

"The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game, which must come to a grinding halt. Continuing with its role as a responsible country, Pakistan is open to participating in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation," the Pakistani Prime Minister said.

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Sharif's remarks signal a toning down of the rhetoric that has been seen lately by other Pakistani leaders and his ministers, who have accused India of "staging" the Pahalgam terror attack to create a "crisis in the region".

Echoing Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, Sharif said Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah had called Kashmir a "jugular vein" of the country.

"Pakistan shall continue to support the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people till they achieve their rights through their great struggle and sacrifices," the Pakistan PM said.

India, which has indirectly held Pakistan responsible for the terror attack, responded with a series of retaliatory measures against Pakistan including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), suspension of visas, closure of Wagah-Attari border amongst others..

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Pakistan has also responded with tit-for-tat measures and closed its airspace to Indian-owned and operated airlines

Pakistan's government, reacting to a series of diplomatic moves by India, warned that diverting water meant for Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty would be viewed as an 'act of war'

Addressing a public rally on Friday, Bhutto, who has also served as Pakistan's foreign minister, said, "We will not allow anyone to bargain over the Indus. To hide its weaknesses and fool the people, the Modi government is unilaterally suspending the Indus Water Treaty by making false allegations against Pakistan, but I want to stand by the Indus River in Sukkur and give a clear message to India that the Indus River is ours and will remain ours, either our water will flow from this Indus or your blood!"

The Resistance Front (TRF) - an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba - opened fire in the Baisaran meadow.

The terror attack, one of the deadliest since the scrapping of Article 370 in 2019, has triggered high-level diplomatic and security responses from the government against Pakistan, which has been accused of harbouring the handlers and backers of this terrorist group.

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