Islamabad/Karachi/New Delhi: Tensions between India and Pakistan have flared again after Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, blamed India for recent unrest in the region. His statement comes in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, which left 26 people—mostly tourists—dead.
Following the deadly attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terror camps and launchpads across the Line of Control (LoC). The operation lasted four days and led to the killing of over 100 terrorists. Most belonged to terror outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Speaking at the Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi, General Munir accused India of “unprovoked aggression” and blamed it for escalating tensions. He claimed India had twice carried out such acts in recent times. However, Munir offered no evidence to back his claims.
Despite the cross-border terror origins of the Pahalgam attack, Munir claimed Pakistan had shown “restraint and maturity.” He painted Pakistan as a regional peacekeeper and said any future aggression from India would be met with a “swift and befitting response.”
Munir also raised the Kashmir issue during his speech. He called for a resolution based on the United Nations resolutions and the “wishes of the Kashmiri people.” Just days earlier, he had described Kashmir as the “jugular vein” of Pakistan—echoing Islamabad’s long-standing position.
India, meanwhile, defended Operation Sindoor as a targeted strike against terrorism, not Pakistan. It accused Pakistan of continuing to support terror networks that operate across the border.
Experts and Indian officials criticised Munir’s speech, calling it an attempt to divert attention from Pakistan’s internal issues. They also warned that equating terrorism with a “legitimate struggle” is dangerous and irresponsible.
As diplomatic ties remain strained, the recent flare-up highlights the deep mistrust and ongoing tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. While India has focused on combating terrorism, Pakistan appears to be doubling down on old narratives. The region waits and watches—uneasily.
