New Delhi: Pakistan has responded to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Calling the incident unfortunate, it expressed condolences to the families of the tourists who lost their lives. However, Pakistan strongly denied any involvement in the attack and made sharp remarks rejecting the accusations.

It stated, “The death of tourists in the Anantnag district attack is tragic. We are deeply concerned about the incident and extend our sympathies to the victims’ families. We hope the injured recover soon,” according to a statement by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Earlier, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also commented on the attack, stating that Pakistan has no connection to it and that they oppose terrorism in all forms. He further claimed in a news interview that insurgencies exist in Jammu & Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Manipur, and southern Indian states — implying that the Pahalgam attack may have been a result of such internal unrest, not foreign interference. “Blaming Pakistan whenever there is military or police oppression on people who have lost basic rights has become a habit. Don’t blame us for the Pahalgam attack,” he said.

The Resistance Front (TRF), which carried out the terror attack on tourists in Baisaran, Pahalgam, was formed after Article 370 — which granted special status to Kashmir — was revoked. Initially, TRF operated online but later transformed into a physical group including members of terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Since its formation in 2019, TRF has been actively involved in attacks to assert its presence in Kashmir. In 2023, India officially listed TRF as a terrorist organization. Indian intelligence agencies claim Pakistan’s ISI created TRF to divert global attention from Lashkar-e-Taiba.