Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah strongly criticized Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's recent offer for a "neutral and transparent" investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, dismissing it as insincere and hypocritical. Abdullah reminded the public that, initially, Islamabad had outright denied that any attack had even taken place and instead had accused New Delhi of orchestrating the incident for political purposes. Speaking to the media, Abdullah stated, "First of all, they did not even recognise that something had happened in Pahalgam. Initially, they falsely accused India of staging the attack. For people who made such baseless allegations against us, it is difficult to attach any credibility to their words now. I don’t want to give much importance to their statements."
Omar Abdullah’s sharp reaction came after Shehbaz Sharif, appearing rattled by the growing diplomatic fallout and escalating tensions with India, publicly offered that Pakistan would be open to participating in any neutral, transparent, and credible international investigation regarding the terror attack, which brutally claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists, including two foreign nationals.
Addressing the situation, Sharif had said, "The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of the perpetual blame game, which must come to a grinding halt. Continuing with its role as a responsible country, Pakistan is open to any neutral and credible investigation." However, his remarks did little to ease anger and skepticism within India, especially considering the earlier inflammatory statements made by senior Pakistani leaders.
Previously, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had alleged that the Pahalgam attack was "staged by India" to create a "crisis in the region", and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had claimed that the Indian government was blaming external forces to divert attention from its internal failures. These initial dismissals and hostile accusations have deeply damaged Pakistan's credibility in the eyes of both Indian authorities and the wider Indian public.
The brutal attack at Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam, allegedly carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, sent shockwaves not only across Jammu and Kashmir but also across the entire nation. It was one of the deadliest attacks targeting civilians in the Valley in recent years. In response, India has indirectly held Pakistan responsible, citing its history of supporting cross-border terrorism. Following the attack, India announced a series of punitive measures, including downgrading diplomatic ties, tightening security protocols, and initiating broader crackdowns on terrorist networks operating with external support.
Beyond the political fallout, the incident has had immediate economic and social repercussions for Kashmir’s vital tourism sector. Massive cancellations of hotel bookings, early departures of tourists, and a general climate of fear and uncertainty have dealt a significant blow to the region's economy, which heavily relies on tourism.
Addressing the fear gripping tourists, Abdullah made a heartfelt appeal: "I can understand the fear among the tourists. It is only human to be afraid after such a horrifying incident. But I want to tell them, if they leave Kashmir during these times, then it may give our enemies the satisfaction of victory. The whole objective of such terror attacks is to scare people away from Kashmir, to isolate us, to destroy our economy and morale. We must not let them succeed." He encouraged tourists and citizens alike to stand resilient and not let the forces of terror achieve their goals.
The Pahalgam attack remains a deeply painful chapter, and the nation's demand for justice for the victims is growing louder by the day. As of now, India has continued to press the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for its continued support to extremist groups, while also strengthening security measures domestically to ensure such tragedies are not repeated.
