Jailed Imran Khan warns India over Pahalgam attack response, calls region a ‘nuclear flashpoint’

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently jailed since August 2023, has responded to the Pahalgam terror attack with a strong message to India, warning against any retaliatory military action. In a statement issued from prison via his official X account, Khan condemned the loss of lives in the April 22 attack, but also accused the Indian government of using the incident to stoke cross-border tensions for political ends.

Describing the attack as “deeply disturbing and tragic,” Khan extended condolences to the victims’ families, but drew parallels with the 2019 Pulwama incident, calling it a “false flag operation.” He alleged that just like in 2019, India is again blaming Pakistan without credible evidence and warned that such rhetoric could escalate tensions in a region he termed a “nuclear flashpoint.”

Imran Khan insisted that Pakistan prioritises peace, but warned that it “should not be mistaken for cowardice.” Recalling the military standoff during his tenure in 2019, he claimed that Pakistan is fully capable of delivering a “befitting response” to any Indian aggression. He reiterated his long-held stance on the Kashmir issue, calling for the right to self-determination in accordance with UN resolutions.

Khan also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government, accusing them of pursuing an “RSS ideology” that poses a grave threat not only to regional stability but to global peace. He further claimed that the internal political divisions in Pakistan, exacerbated by state crackdowns on his party, are undermining the country’s ability to present a united front against external threats.

The former PM didn’t spare his political rivals either, accusing Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari of staying silent on Indian aggression due to their foreign business interests. According to Khan, they fear losing their overseas assets and are unlikely to challenge India diplomatically or otherwise.

His comments come amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. Pakistan's Information Minister has claimed that India is preparing a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead. Meanwhile, Indian PM Narendra Modi has granted the armed forces complete operational freedom to respond to the attack.