PM’s speech in Kakul was a ‘turning point’ in Pakistan’s stance on Pahalgam incident: Tarar

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Sunday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s speech in Kakul proved to be a “turning point” in Pakistan’s diplomatic stance as he proposed an independent probe into the Pahalgam incident, but India did not respond.

“This strengthened Pakistan’s position in the international arena and proved that India’s accusations were baseless when an investigation was proposed,” Tarar said at a press briefing in Islamabad.

Tarar added that on April 26, 2025, the Prime Minister delivered a “historic speech” in Kakul, responding to what he described as Pahalgam’s “false flag operation” and emphasizing that blame games and unverified accusations must end.

Referring to the attack, he said Pakistan had expressed sympathy for the victims and considered the incident a tragedy, adding that the prime minister had called for restraint in blame games and requested that accusations not be made without evidence.

He compared Pakistan’s stance with that of India, saying Islamabad had consistently condemned terrorism while suffering heavy losses in the fight against it, saying Pakistan had lost more than 90,000 lives and suffered economic losses exceeding $600 billion due to terrorism.

The minister said Pakistan remained a frontline state against terrorism and continued to fight against extremist networks, alleging external links with groups such as the BLA and TTP.

Tarar said that on April 24, 2025, Pakistan’s National Security Committee held a meeting during which the country gave a “comprehensive response” to the Indian allegations.

He also raised water concerns, saying Pakistan considers water security a “red line” and would not allow violations of the Indus Water Treaty. He added that the prime minister had warned that any attempt to restrict Pakistan’s water rights would be met with a response, warning India against using water as a weapon.

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Tarar said Pakistan’s armed forces remained fully capable of responding to any aggression, adding that the nation remained united behind its military leadership.

The minister added that Pakistan’s narrative on terrorism and regional security had gained international recognition over the past year, while what he called “baseless allegations” against Pakistan had not been accepted globally.

He further said that Pakistan’s international image and respect among overseas Pakistanis had improved, and the country continues to be viewed with “dignity and respect” by the international community.

He added that Kakul’s speech will be remembered as an important milestone in the political articulation of Pakistan, strengthening the country’s position in peace, security and sovereignty.

Pahalgam attack

The escalation between Pakistan and India began on April 22, 2025, when an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. India immediately blamed Pakistan for the incident. However, Pakistan has categorically rejected Indian responsibility.

In response, India undertook a series of hostile actions the next day, April 23, 2025, including suspending the 65-year-old Indus Water Treaty (IWT), canceling visas for Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border post, ordering the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to close, and reducing diplomatic staff at each other’s embassies.

Tensions further escalated in the early hours of May 7, 2025, when missile strikes hit six towns in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), destroying a mosque and killing dozens of civilians, including women, children and elderly people.

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In a swift military response, Pakistani armed forces shot down Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales. The confrontation escalated again in the wee hours of May 10, 2025, when India targeted several Pakistani airbases with missile strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, damaging Indian military installations including missile storage sites, airbases and other strategic targets.

On May 10, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached after intense diplomatic efforts overnight. Minutes later, the deal was separately confirmed by Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Indian Foreign Minister.