Islamabad (TDI): During the weekly press briefing, the Spokesperson of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan, said that no third country is yet involved in mediating a de-escalation between Pakistan and India, following the Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025.
He also said that all options are on the table and Pakistan is fully prepared to act in the face of aggression, as the situation evolves every minute.
So far, strong statements from both India and Pakistan have created a war frenzy in the South Asian region. Pakistani officials have said that if India messes with Pakistani waters, it will be considered an act of war while India’s PM Modi made a statement on chasing those involved in the Pahalgam attack.
🔴LIVE: Spokesperson’s Weekly Press Briefing 25-04-2025 at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad https://t.co/444W3jGNuZ
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 25, 2025
Pakistan’s official stance states that linking the attack, that claimed twenty six lives in Indian Occupied Kashmir, to Pakistan is a false flag by India; a part of its larger strategy to go aggressive against Pakistan.
Meanwhile, contradictory claims regarding the identity of those who were killed as well as those who carried out the attack, circulating in Indian media, are largely being received by Pakistan as deliberate misinformation.
Soon after the attack happened, Pakistan’s FO condemned it in an official statement and urged India to go after the actual perpetrators. However, bilateral ties have turned really tense as India made unofficial announcements of unilaterally revoking the Indus Waters Treaty.
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In quick measures, Pakistan restricted India’s entry into its airspace, expelled diplomatic attaché, suspended trade (involving indirect trade via third country), and has warned of an all-out war if India goes offensive.
This is not the first time such a situation has occurred. Previously, in 2016 and 2019, both countries reached dangerously close to escalation. In 2019, both countries actually carried out strikes and Pakistan shot down an Indian fighter jet, capturing the pilot.
The United Nations has urged both countries to observe restraint. However, risk of escalation persists as both countries try to gather more diplomatic clout for their respective stance.
Nuzhat Rana is the Managing Editor (website) at The Diplomatic Insight.
