Islamabad, April 28, 2025 – In a significant diplomatic move, Pakistan has urged Russia and China to participate in an international investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, in Jammu and Kashmir earlier this month.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Islamabad maintains that it had no role in the brutal attack. Pakistani officials have dismissed India’s allegations of cross-border terrorism, describing them as “baseless” and “politically motivated.” In an effort to bolster its claims of innocence, Pakistan formally suggested that neutral parties such as Russia and China be involved in an independent investigation to ascertain the true perpetrators behind the deadly assault.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch emphasized during a media briefing that Pakistan supports a fair, transparent, and impartial investigation into the incident. She said Islamabad would “welcome” the involvement of global powers like China and Russia, with whom Pakistan shares strong strategic partnerships.
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources noted that Pakistan’s proposal comes amid growing international pressure over its continued ties with terror groups operating in the region. Islamabad’s suggestion for third-party involvement is seen as an attempt to deflect criticism and avoid being directly blamed for sponsoring militant activity in Kashmir.
China has responded cautiously, indicating it is “carefully observing” the developments, while Russia has yet to issue an official statement regarding Pakistan’s request. Beijing, however, reiterated its call for regional stability and emphasized the need for both India and Pakistan to resolve issues through dialogue and cooperation.
India has firmly rejected Pakistan’s offer for an international probe, asserting that its own investigations, led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), have already uncovered evidence linking Pakistan-based terror outfits to the attack. New Delhi maintains that Lashkar-e-Taiba’s proxy, The Resistance Front (TRF), was behind the strike, and has continued to press for global action against Pakistan for allegedly harboring terror elements.
The Pahalgam attack, which targeted tourists in a popular meadow near the town, has drawn global condemnation. Countries including the United States, France, and Australia have expressed solidarity with India and called for bringing the perpetrators to justice.
As tensions escalate between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, the situation remains fragile, with calls from the international community urging both sides to show restraint and prevent further deterioration of peace in the region.
