SRINAGAR: On Saturday (Apr 26), Pakistan urged for a “neutral” investigation into the deaths of primarily Indian tourists in Kashmir, which New Delhi has attributed to Islamabad. Pakistan expressed its willingness to cooperate and its commitment to peace.
India has named two of the three suspected attackers as Pakistani nationals, though Islamabad has denied any involvement in the assault on Tuesday that resulted in 25 Indian and one Nepali tourist fatalities.
“Pakistan is ready to assist any unbiased investigation to ensure that the truth is uncovered and justice is achieved,” stated Pakistan’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi.
“We are dedicated to peace and stability, adhering to international standards, while also safeguarding our sovereignty,” he noted during a press conference.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to track down the perpetrators to “the ends of the earth,” asserting that those responsible will face severe consequences. There have also been increasing calls from Indian officials and others for a military response against Pakistan.
Following the attack, both India and Pakistan implemented various retaliatory actions. Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian flights, while India halted the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty that governs water distribution from the Indus River system.
The two nations, both of which claim Kashmir in full but govern parts of it, have recently exchanged fire along their de facto border after four years of relative peace.
The Indian Army reported that it responded to “unprovoked” small arms fire from several Pakistan Army positions beginning around midnight on Friday along the 740km de facto border dividing Indian and Pakistani Kashmir. No casualties were reported.
The Pakistani military did not provide a comment in response to the request.
