Let there be restraint

With India out looking for scapegoats for its security lapse in the Pahalgam attack, war clouds have been looming the past few days over Pakistan. Despite that, both the government and the people have exhibited remarkable restraint. Once again, Pakistan has shown commendable maturity, reaffirming its commitment to responsible international conduct with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also making it clear that Pakistan is ready to participate in any neutral, transparent investigation into the killings. The prime minister has stressed that Pakistan stands for peace but alo warned – and rightly so – that this desire must not be mistaken for weakness. In stark contrast, the Indian government and media have launched a baseless blame campaign against Pakistan without any credible investigation or verifiable evidence. Indian leaders have chosen to engage in provocative rhetoric, a pattern all too familiar under the Narendra Modi-led government. Accusations were made within hours of the attack, without even preliminary forensic analysis, exposing the hollowness of India’s claims. PM Shehbaz has rightly called these “baseless allegations”, while Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir has reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to defend itself in the face of such reckless posturing.

The Modi junta seems to believe it can scare Pakistan with its aggressive stance, but the fact is that it has pretty much failed and India’s bullying tactics have not worked. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has also said that Pakistan believes an international investigation is needed into the Pahalgam incident and is ready to cooperate with any investigation conducted by international inspectors. Such openness stands in stark contrast to India’s knee-jerk scapegoating. More troubling is the role of the Indian media, which has behaved in a manner not just reckless and irresponsible, but downright unethical. From falsely attributing the attack to ‘The Resistance Front’ (TRF) to beating the drums of war, the Indian media has become a propaganda tool, echoing the rhetoric of the Modi government. TRF, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), has denied having claimed responsibility for the attack, calling the claim “part of an orchestrated campaign to malign the Kashmiri resistance”. These fabrications point to a disturbing tactic: using manufactured narratives to justify both domestic repression and international aggression.

Experts have noted that blaming Pakistan gives the Modi government an excuse to hound Indian Muslims, especially Kashmiris, who are under attack across India. This should serve as a wake-up call to the international community. India’s internal climate is becoming increasingly hostile, and the treatment of its Muslim population – particularly in Occupied Kashmir – continues to deteriorate under the current regime. It is time for India to realise that warmongering solves nothing. Pakistan has condemned the Pahalgam attack and expressed solidarity with the victims. This is how responsible nations behave. The fact also is that war is really not an option for either of these two nuclear nations. It is not sustainable. It is not practical. And it is inherently anti-people on all sides. India needs to stop what it is doing, abandon its belligerent stance and engage in meaningful dialogue based on facts, not fearmongering and threats. Pakistan has taken a firm and principled stand. Now, it is on India to act responsibly. The world is watching. Let this not be another chapter of violence written in the ink of nationalism and hate.