Pakistan seeks Russian, Chinese involvement in Pahalgam attack probe, denies India's allegations

Pakistan has called for the involvement of Russia, China, and even Western nations in investigating the recent Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir. The move comes amid strong accusations from India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowing the "harshest response" against those responsible for the massacre.

Speaking to Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif proposed setting up an international investigation team. He suggested that such a body could determine whether India's claims about Pakistan’s involvement were factual or politically motivated. According to him, Pakistan has been wrongly accused without any substantial evidence being presented.

The attack in Pahalgam was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), widely known as a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group. Indian agencies have identified Aadil Thokar, a former resident who crossed into Pakistan in 2018 and returned through the Line of Control in 2024, as a prime accused in orchestrating the assault.

Pakistan’s handling of the aftermath, however, has drawn criticism. Independent Moscow-based analyst Andrew Korybko pointed out contradictions in Pakistani officials' responses. While Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar speculated that the attackers "might be freedom fighters," Khawaja Asif suggested it could have been a "false flag" operation by India itself — two mutually exclusive narratives that have cast doubt on Pakistan's credibility.

Adding to the tensions, Prime Minister Modi, during a rally in Bihar, declared that India would trace, identify, and punish every terrorist and their supporters with unimaginable severity. His statement reinforced India's firm stance on dealing with terrorism with zero tolerance.

Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formally taken over the Pahalgam probe, questioning eyewitnesses and expanding their investigations across Jammu and Kashmir to dismantle any possible terror networks linked to the attack.