- By Ajeet Kumar
- Wed, 23 Apr 2025 10:13 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Pahalgam terror attack news: Hours after the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, Pakistan "distanced" itself from the incident and said "it has no connection with the terrorist attack on tourists". Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said, while speaking to a Pakistani media, Live 92 news channel, blamed India for sponsoring unrest within the neighbouring country.
Pakistan has no connection: Khawaja
"Pakistan has no connection with this. This is all home-grown, there are revolutions in different so-called states against India, not one, not two, but dozens, from Nagaland to Kashmir, in the south, in Chattisgarh, in Manipur. In all these places, there are revolutions against the Indian government," Asif told the Pakistani media. However, there was no official word from the Indian government regarding Pakistan's connection in the Pahalgam terror attack.
Pahalgam terror attack
The brutal attack unfolded on Tuesday in the scenic Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, where terrorists reportedly emerged from dense forest areas and opened indiscriminate fire on a group of unsuspecting tourists. At least 26 people were killed in the brutal attack. This has been one of the biggest terror attacks after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The government, however, has yet to officially confirm the number of casualties in the terror attack in Pahalgam.
Initial Intelligence inputs point towards the Pakistan-based terror outfit, The Resistance Front, a known offshoot of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba, as the perpetrators of the assault.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani defence minister alleged the attackers were "home-grown" and blamed "Hindutva" forces for exploiting the people from minority communities. However, he did not provide any concrete evidence to support his claims.
"These are home-grown, people are asking for their rights. Hindutva forces are exploiting the people, suppressing minorities and exploiting Christians and Buddhists. They are being killed, this is a revolt against that, it is because of this that such actions are happening there," said Asif.
Pakistan foreign ministry reacts to Kulgham attack
Later on Wednesday, Pakistan foreign ministry said it was "concerned at the loss of tourists’ lives" as 26 people were killed when gunmen opened fire on visitors in a popular destination. "We are concerned at the loss of tourists’ lives in an attack. "We extend our condolences to the near ones of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery," he added. Former foreign minister Khurram Dastgir Khan also expressed his concern over the loss of life during the attack. “Condolences to families and near ones of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” he said in a post on X.