ISLAMABAD/KARACHI:
A slew of knee-jerk punitive measures from India, angry rhetoric from its politicians, and sabre-rattling from its jingoistic media have sharply escalated tensions between the two hyphenated neighbours on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened an emergency meeting of the principal national security forum on Thursday (today) to cobble up Pakistan’s response.
Attendees at the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting – which was called after New Delhi formally blamed Pakistan for the Pehalgam attack – will include all services chiefs, senior cabinet members, and other top officials.
“Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif has convened the meeting of the National Security Committee on Thursday morning 24th April 2025 to respond to the Indian government’s statement of this evening,” Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who also holds the portfolio of foreign minister, wrote on microblogging site X.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar termed Indian decisions as unfair and said New Delhi had not provided any evidence but resorted to such unsustainable measures.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s foreign ministry offered condolences over the loss of tourist lives. “We are concerned at the loss of tourists’ lives in an attack in Anantnag district of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. We extend our condolences to the near ones of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
Sources said the NSC meeting would review the overall security situation and chalk out a strategy in the wake fears of a potential all-out conflict with India.
Meanwhile, sources told The Express Tribune that the government has decided to give a strong diplomatic response to India’s brinkmanship, and false propaganda against Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack.
“The Indian drama will be exposed on all international forums. The propaganda of the [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi government will be exposed and every strategy of India will be thwarted at the global level through diplomatic means,” a source said.
According to sources, consultations are under way at the highest level and any future strategy would be approved by the prime minister. The sources said that Pakistan has already rejected the India’s previous allegations and this time too, the Modi government has no evidence to substantiate its allegations.
