Amid escalating tensions with India, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif asserted Pakistan's innocence in a recent terror attack in Kashmir, which resulted in 26 deaths, and called for an international investigation. The attack, claimed by a little-known group called the Resistance Front, has led India to take punitive actions against Pakistan, including closing border crossings and suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, a critical water-sharing agreement. Asif denounced these actions as unjustified and politically motivated, suggesting that the attack could have been a false flag operation by India. While India links the attack to the group Lashkar-e-Taiba, Asif maintains that the group is defunct in Pakistan and denied accusations of its involvement. The situation has drawn international concern due to the potential for conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors, with calls for mediation from the United States and other parties to prevent further escalation.

Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif declared his country's innocence in a terror attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 people, advocating for an international investigation to prove Pakistan's non-involvement.

The attack near Pahalgam was the deadliest on Indian-administered territory in years, leading India to take immediate actions against Pakistan, including closing border crossings and suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, which could significantly affect Pakistan's water supply.

Asif criticized India's response as a pretext for political gain, suggesting that India had long sought an excuse to exit the water treaty, which has been a stabilizing factor in Indo-Pakistani relations since 1960.

Indian officials suspect involvement from Pakistani nationals and have linked the attack to Lashkar-e-Taiba, but Asif refuted these claims, asserting the group's inactivity within Pakistan and suggesting the attack might have been a false flag operation.

The international community, particularly the United States, has expressed concern over the escalating tension between the two nuclear nations, with Pakistan urging the Trump administration to mediate to avoid war.

Despite Pakistan's denial of support for separatist groups in India, some Pakistani officials have made contradictory statements regarding Kashmir, describing it as a crucial issue and expressing support for the Kashmiri struggle against Indian control.

The situation remains tense, with both countries taking diplomatic actions against each other, and the possibility of further conflict looms, prompting calls for calm and peaceful resolution from international observers.