Pakistan briefs political leaders on India tensions; PTI boycotts

ISLAMABAD: Amid rising tensions between Pakistan and India, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry gave a high-level briefing to leaders of political parties on the current national security situation.

The briefing was held at the headquarters of Pakistan Television (PTV) and was attended by leaders of all major political parties except the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which declined the invitation. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram confirmed receipt of the invitation but said the party would not attend.

The session was aimed at apprising the political leadership of the current national security situation, Pakistan’s defence preparations, diplomatic engagements and the state’s official stance amid rising hostility from India.

Officials described the briefing as a “symbol of national unity and harmony” at a time of regional tensions.

Earlier, DG ISPR Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a joint press conference along with Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan. They apprised the nation about the recent provocations along the Line of Control (LoC), including the false flag allegations by India after the Pahalgam attack.

Ishaq Dar: ‘India is creating tension to divert attention from failures’

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar condemned India’s escalating rhetoric, saying New Delhi’s actions were a threat to regional peace. He reiterated Pakistan’s consistent stand against all forms of terrorism and stressed that no cause justifies terrorism.

Quoting a Quranic verse – “Whoever kills an innocent person, it is as if he has killed the entire humanity” – Dar reminded the press that Pakistan itself has been immensely affected by terrorism, which has caused economic losses of over $150 billion and countless lives lost.

He accused India of using terrorism as a tool to divert attention from internal security failures and the ongoing repression against Kashmiris, including the use of draconian laws. He said India blames others instead of addressing its own problems.

Pakistan, while continuing to engage with international partners, has warned that India’s aggression threatens not only bilateral peace but also regional stability.

DG ISPR exposed India’s false flag operation

The DG ISPR strongly criticized India’s allegations, saying that the speed and manner in which the allegations were leveled against Pakistan after the Pahalgam incident made it a false flag operation. He confirmed that the Pakistan Army has completed all necessary countermeasures and is ready to defend the country’s sovereignty at all costs.

He said that if India chooses the path of military confrontation, it is their choice. “But how things move forward after that will be our choice.”