Pakistan denies involvement in Pahalgam terror attack: 'Home-grown incident'

Asif further suggested that the attack was a result of internal unrest within India.

Pakistan, on Wednesday, issued its first official response, hours after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam claimed over 25 lives, distancing itself from the incident and asserting that it has "nothing to do" with the attack.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated, “Pakistan has no link with the Pahalgam terror attack,” while reiterating the country’s position of rejecting “terrorism in all its forms.”

Asif further suggested that the attack was a result of internal unrest within India.

“The Central government in India is facing protests in many states, including Nagaland, Manipur, Kashmir, and Chhattisgarh. This is home-grown as the government is exploiting many,” he claimed.

He remarked that “locals should not be a target for terrorists” and asserted, “We do not support terrorism in any form, and we have no doubt about it.”

Asif, however, also alleged that it was convenient for the Indian government to “target Pakistan” whenever it faced domestic challenges, implying that the country was being scapegoated amid internal unrest.