Pakistan open to neutral probe into Kashmir terror attack, says PM Shehbaz Sharif

In the first official response from Pakistan’s political leadership since the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on April 26 said Islamabad is "open to any neutral, transparent and credible investigation." His remarks come even as India moves to present compelling evidence of Pakistan’s alleged involvement to the international community.

Addressing cadets at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul — a speech delivered from a prepared, establishment-approved text — Sharif framed Pakistan’s offer as an act of responsibility. “The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game which must come to a grinding halt. Pakistan is open to participate in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation,” Sharif said, speaking before senior military officials.

This diplomatic overture comes even as New Delhi, backed by a combination of technical intelligence, human sources, and eyewitness testimony, has briefed foreign leaders and ambassadors about what it says is clear evidence linking the attackers to Pakistan.

In a series of high-level diplomatic engagements, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s calls with 13 world leaders and meetings between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and more than 30 ambassadors, India has detailed how electronic signatures and other intelligence traced the terrorists and their group — The Resistance Front — to Pakistani soil.

According to sources, some of the terrorists involved have been positively identified, with records confirming their previous involvement in cross-border terror operations. Indian officials assert that these militants infiltrated Indian territory weeks prior to the attack, which claimed 26 lives — 25 Indian and one Nepalese citizen.

Sharif’s statement mirrors past instances where Pakistan offered cooperation after attacks, including the 2016 Pathankot airbase assault, when a Pakistani investigative team visited the site. However, India remains cautious, viewing such offers as attempts to deflect mounting international pressure rather than genuine efforts to curb terrorism.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has moved to brief foreign envoys in Islamabad, expressing fears of escalation following New Delhi’s strong diplomatic response, which includes a series of retaliatory measures. Indian officials, however, maintain that the evidence against Pakistan is overwhelming and that the steps taken are necessary to expose and isolate Pakistan internationally.

By firmly linking the Pahalgam attack to cross-border terror networks, New Delhi hopes to ensure that Pakistan faces sustained diplomatic scrutiny — and that the memory of the 26 civilians lost is not overshadowed by political maneuvering.