Pak distances itself from Pahalgam terror attack, claims 'home-grown uprising' against 'Hindutva regime'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan attempted to distance itself from Sunday’s murderous terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam that claimed at least 26 lives, with defence minister Khawaja Asif claiming on Wednesday his country had “nothing to do” with the massacre of Indian tourists and referring to it as a “home-grown” uprising against India’s “Hindutva regime”.

Speaking to a Pakistani TV channel, Asif alleged there were rebellions across the Indian states of Nagaland, Kashmir and Manipur. The minister’s remarks reflect Islamabad’s narrative of framing the violence as a local response to Indian policies, contrasting with India’s accusations of Pakistani support for militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba .

The minister’s statements, steeped in denial and deflection, sidestepped Pakistan’s well-documented ties to terror groups.

Asif’s comments come soon after Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir’s provocative April 16 speech in which he had described Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and vowed support for the “Kashmiri struggle”. This rhetoric, paired with Asif’s denial, paints a picture of a state unwilling to confront its complicity.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s foreign office issued a statement expressing concern over the loss of lives but stopped short of condemning the attack as terrorism, a move critics see as tacitly endorsing the violence. “We extend our condolences to the near ones of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” foreign office spokesperson Shafqat Khan said. This carefully worded response, coupled with Asif’s claim that the attack reflects “local uprisings”, has drawn sharp criticism for whitewashing the role of Pakistan-based terror outfits.