FO rubbishes India’s ‘false narrative’ linking Pakistan to Pahalgam attack
Foreign Office. Photo: File
The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday rejected what it described as India’s propaganda campaign of “baseless allegations” linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident, and called on New Delhi to demonstrate responsible behaviour and refrain from inflammatory rhetoric and actions.
The FO did not specify what statements or allegations it was referring to. However, an Indian media outlet claimed in a recent investigation that the mastermind behind the Pahalgam attack was taking shelter in Pakistan. It claimed the suspect allegedly possessed a Pakistani identity card with a Rawalpindi address.
Meanwhile, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a veiled warning to Pakistan a day ago.
On April 22 last year, unidentified attackers killed 26 people in Pahalgam in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India immediately blamed Pakistan without presenting evidence, an allegation Islamabad categorically rejected. Tensions escalated the following day, April 23, 2025, when India undertook a series of hostile measures, including suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty.
In a statement issued today, the FO said: “At a time when Pakistan, along with its international partners, is undertaking concerted diplomatic efforts for regional and international peace and security, it is deplorable that India has once again resorted to a campaign of baseless allegations and propaganda to link Pakistan with the Pahalgam incident.”
Calling the development "unfortunate|, the statement said that amid an ongoing regional crisis, India remained focused on “weaponising its false narrative against Pakistan for narrow domestic political gains”.
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Pakistan Rejects India’s Propaganda, Calls for Responsible Conduct
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/GSIc3gxbUf“After receiving a befitting reply to its misplaced adventurism in the form of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos last year, such allegations constitute yet another chapter from India’s playbook of creating a smokescreen for its continued sponsorship of terrorism across the region,” it added.
The FO said such propaganda campaigns could not distract the international community from India’s continued occupation of IIOJK and its denial of the right to self-determination to Kashmiris, in violation of relevant United Nations resolutions.
Also Read: One year on, India failed to present evidence on Pahalgam attack: Tarar
It further stated that such “gimmicks” could not conceal what it termed India’s undermining of regional peace and security through "inflammatory rhetoric, repeated provocations and aggressive military posturing", including its unilateral move to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, which it said violated international law.
“We hope that the international community will call on India to demonstrate responsible behaviour and to refrain from all rhetoric and actions that may serve as a spoiler to ongoing efforts aimed at regional and international peace and security,” the statement concluded.
A day ago, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar marked one year since what he described as the “Pahalgam false flag operation”, stating that India had failed to present evidence for its allegations against Pakistan over the attack.
The situation had further deteriorated following the Pahalgam attack in the early hours of May 7, 2025, when missile strikes hit six cities in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), destroying a mosque and killing dozens of civilians, including women, children and the elderly.
In response, Pakistan’s armed forces shot down Indian warplanes, including three Rafale jets.
Later, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos in retaliation, targeting Indian military installations, including missile storage sites, airbases and other strategic locations.
On May 10, 2025, United States President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached following overnight diplomatic efforts. The agreement was subsequently confirmed by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Indian foreign secretary.