After another of India’s empty claims that Pakistan was involved in last week’s Pahalgam attack, Islamabad has denied the accusation categorically, and demanded an international neutral probe to find out the facts. Indian allegations seem politically motivated, baseless, and without any verifiable evidence, they appear to be just the New Delhi’s diversionary tactics from its own security failings in Indian administered Kashmir. Pakistan’s stance is clear that it has nothing to do with the incident and refuses to be scape goated as the reason for India’s internal crises. Rather, Islamabad has continued to call for an unbiased inquiry by credible international bodies to test the veracity of Indian claims.

Pakistan has chosen a principled approach by inviting third party countries such as the US, the UK or Saudi Arabia to carry out credible investigations

India’s so-called evidence beyond the repetitive rhetoric and groundless accusations is hardly compelling. India’s deliberate externalization of a crisis in Kashmir is instead a direct outcome of oppressive Indian policies for which Pakistan is always blamed. What India uses instead is repetition and platforming of disinformation to justify its draconian measures in Kashmir while allowing India to reap impunity for ongoing systematic human rights violations of Kashmiri people. New Delhi has persistently shifted the responsibility onto Pakistan with an attempt to de-legitimize Kashmiri opposition and ensure its own military control of the region.

On the other hand, Pakistan has chosen a principled approach by inviting third party countries such as the US, the UK or Saudi Arabia to carry out credible investigations. By holding out India’s own atrocities in Kashmir, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, systematic repression, including now a second communications ‘blackout’ in three months, and refusing to even allow a single independent probe, India stands alone.

Before August 2019 when India’s controversial annexation of Kashmir unleashed a new wave of armed resistance, The Resistance Front (TRF) did not exist

Before August 2019 when India’s controversial annexation of Kashmir unleashed a new wave of armed resistance, The Resistance Front (TRF) did not exist. Human rights organizations and international observers have condemned the revocation of article 370, warning that it would lead to the destabilization of the region. Instead of responding to Kashmiri grievances with dialogue, India doubled down on coercion, deploying even more troops, imposing communication blackouts, criminalising political dissent. In such a climate of extreme suppression as this, TRF indeed exhibited genuine local outrage, not something engineered externally. However, Indian intelligence reports itself acknowledge the group’s local beginnings.

Pakistan demands foreign review, but India constantly obstructs outside investigations into its practices for fear of exposing its appalling torture in the Kashmir valley

Calling for a neutral investigation is not just a diplomatic push-back, but a major test of India’s larger game of disinformation. Islamabad has always declared that in case any neutral investigation ever reveals that Pakistan is involved in the cross-border militancy, they will take the blame, unlike India’s unwillingness to be taken to any blame for what it does in Kashmir. Such a dramatic imbalance in the accountability management gives an obvious picture of the situation. Pakistan demands foreign review, but India constantly obstructs outside investigations into its practices for fear of exposing its appalling torture in the Kashmir valley.

India tends to divert people’s attention away from its own economic challenges, corrupt institutions and growing communal violence, by framing charges of terrorism against Pakistan

However, this specific occurrence shows the world how India has been systematically deceiving the world about its internal hassles. The Modi government’s hyper nationalist discourse fuelled by a compliant media has turned an ecological paradise into a propagandist terrain with hard evidence in short supply. India tends to divert people’s attention away from its own economic challenges, corrupt institutions and growing communal violence, by framing charges of terrorism against Pakistan.

Pakistan is still advocating a peaceful settlement of the issue pertaining to the Kashmir problem that passes legal norms of the international law. Decades-old, it encourages international actors to make India answerable for its human rights abuses and push for the UN-approved plebiscite that would allow the people of Kashmir to vote for their future. A refusal from Islamabad of such a nature is symbolic of a greater, principle-driven mentality which seeks justice, openness, recognition of legal norms and responsibility in governance.

In the end, Pakistan’s forceful denial of wild Indian accusations about the Pahalgam matter proves that it has a desire to be transparent, just and accountable

In the end, Pakistan’s forceful denial of wild Indian accusations about the Pahalgam matter proves that it has a desire to be transparent, just and accountable. This contrasts with India’s refusal to allow independent scrutiny of its actions in Kashmir, the backdrop to the current situation. The misinformation cycle of externalizing blame by India disguises its own problems of internal issues and human rights violations. Pakistan remains steadfast in its position for the peaceful solution of the Kashmir dispute according to international law, in accordance with the aspirations and the wishes of the people of Kashmir.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.