(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Srinagar- Pakistan on Saturday offered to join any“neutral and transparent” probe into the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 people.
“The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game, which must come to a grinding halt. Continuing with its role as a responsible country, Pakistan is open to participating in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said while addressing the army-cadets passing-out parade at the Pakistan Military Academy in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Kakul.
Echoing his views, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in a press conference in Lahore said,“If neutral people of any third country carry out a probe into this incident, we are ready to cooperate with them.”
Talking about the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty by India, Sharif said any attempt to stop, reduce or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan would be responded to with full force and might.
Sharif threatened to use all options if the water of its share was stopped by India.
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“Water is our lifeline and a vital national interest, and its availability will be safeguarded at all costs and under all circumstances,” he said.
He said the entire nation stood by the armed forces of Pakistan to safeguard every inch of the homeland.“Our valiant armed forces are capable and remain fully prepared to defend the country's sovereignty and its territorial integrity against any misadventure,” he said.
“Our armed forces are a symbol of valour, exemplary discipline and unwavering commitment to the nation.”
“Peace is our preference but must not be construed as our weakness,” the prime minister said, adding that“we will never compromise on our dignity and security of the country”.
Sharif said,“Pakistan has always condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
“We have endured immense loss of over 90,000 casualties and economic losses exceeding USD 600 billion,” he said, adding that there cannot be a more powerful manifestation of“our commitment that we will not tolerate any kind of terrorism of any hue and colour”.
The prime minister said he regretted that India continued the pattern of exploitation, levelling baseless allegations and false accusations without a credible investigation or verifiable evidence.
Sharif said Muhammad Ali Jinnah had called Kashmir a jugular vein of Pakistan. He said the“globally recognised dispute” remained unresolved despite UN resolutions.
“Pakistan shall continue to support the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people till they achieve their rights through their great struggle and sacrifices,” the prime minister said.
At the press conference in Lahore, Interior Minister Naqvi also demanded“neutral inquiry” into the Jaffar Express train hijacking in Balochistan last month and alleged India's involvement in it.
He said Pakistan is handling the situation which arose after the Pahalgam attack“with patience” and warned India of taking any step towards war.
“Let me tell you..we are warriors and they (Indian) are not. We don't want war. We don't support terrorism. If India takes one step towards war, then we are ready to respond with two steps,” he said, adding that Pakistan wants thorough investigation into the Pahalgam attack to reach the“real culprits”.
“We call for a neutral and independent body to lead the inquiry. Pakistan is fully prepared to cooperate with any neutral investigators to ensure that the truth is uncovered and justice is served,” Naqvi said.
Omar Questions Offer
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday questioned Pakistan's offer to join any“neutral and transparent” probe into the terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people on April 22.
“The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game, which must come to a grinding halt. Continuing with its role as a responsible country, Pakistan is open to participating in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation,” Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday.
“First they (Pakistan) did not accept that something happened in Pahalgam. Then they even said it was done by India. They were the ones who first accused us, so it's difficult to say anything about them,” Abdullah told reporters here.
Asked about Sharif's remarks, Abdullah said,“I do not want to comment much on their (Pakistani leaders) statements. I regret the incident, which should not have happened.”
On the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 with Pakistan, which India put in abeyance for the cross-border links to the Pahalgam attack, and the dams constructed over the Chenab River, Abdullah said,“Why are you linking the two? What does the water treaty have to do with these things? Whether the Indus Water Treaty is suspended or not, what does it have to do with these projects?”
The chief minister was in Ramban to review the restoration of essential services following flash floods and mudslides in the region.
During his visit, Abdullah went to the flash flood-hit Dharam Kund village, where three persons were killed and dozens of houses were damaged on April 20.
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