In the heat of Pahalgam, Pakistan acknowledges its involvement in the Pulwama terror assault

In a stunning and unprecedented moment during a press briefing, Pakistan's Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed openly admitted the military's role in the 2019 Pulwama terrorist attack, describing it as a display of "tactical brilliance." This rare and provocative acknowledgment marks the first time a senior figure from Pakistan's military establishment has directly taken ownership of the attack, which killed 40 Indian CRPF personnel and brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war.

This admission, made on May 10 in the presence of foreign and domestic media, dismantles years of official denials by Pakistan, which has consistently distanced itself from the Pulwama suicide bombing carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Despite JeM having claimed responsibility and India presenting a detailed dossier on the attacker Adil Ahmad Dar, Pakistan had maintained that it required "proof" of state involvement. That stance has now been fatally undermined.

Aurangzeb, speaking alongside DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry and a Navy spokesperson, stated:

“We tried to tell them with our tactical brilliance in Pulwama… now, we have demonstrated our operational progress and strategic acumen.”

These remarks carry tremendous weight as they come not from a politician, but from a high-ranking member of Pakistan's military-media wing — the true power base in the country, often seen as more influential than the civilian government.

Why This Admission Matters:

1. Strategic Implications for India-Pakistan Relations:
   The comment removes any ambiguity about state complicity in the Pulwama attack and could give India a stronger diplomatic and legal position internationally.

2. Psychological & Moral Shift:
   The statement also justifies India’s retaliatory actions — including the Balakot airstrikes and the recent Operation Sindoor — as legitimate acts of self-defense.

3. Historical Parallel:
   While Fawad Chaudhry, Pakistan’s then Minister for Science and Technology, made a similar admission in 2020 in Parliament, his words were dismissed as political bluster. Aurangzeb’s words, however, come from within Pakistan’s military command, and were delivered in a formal, official setting.

4. Nuclear Concerns and Terror Links:
   The presence of Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, whose father Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood is a known al-Qaida sympathizer and sanctioned by the UN, added an eerie dimension to the press conference. It has reignited concerns over Pakistan's unstable nexus of nuclear assets and radical elements.

5. Pakistan’s Narrative Collapse:
   With this confession, Islamabad’s long-standing diplomatic defense that it was not involved in Pulwama—and more recently, in the April 22 Pahalgam attack—has been shattered. It also calls into question Pakistan's denials in earlier major terror incidents, such as the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

6. Reinforcement of India's Counterterror Doctrine:
   This public admission helps solidify India’s stance on preemptive counter-terrorism strikes and enhances the legitimacy of future operations under PM Modi’s "ghus ke maarenge" (strike in their backyard) strategy.

What’s Next?

India may use this statement to:

• Galvanize international support for Pakistan’s blacklisting at FATF.

• Seek a global condemnation of Pakistan’s military for direct involvement in terrorism.

• Leverage it at the UN and other multilateral forums to push for sanctions or diplomatic isolation.

This admission is not just a PR blunder—it’s a geopolitical gamechanger.