Pakistan believes that an international investigation is necessary into the killing of 26 men at a tourist destination in Indian-administered Kashmir earlier this week and is prepared to cooperate with global investigators, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
In an interview with the newspaper, Asif said Pakistan was “ready to cooperate” with “any investigation conducted by international inspectors.” India has alleged that Pakistani elements were involved in Tuesday’s attack, a claim Islamabad has firmly denied. Both countries claim the mountainous Kashmir region, but each controls only a portion of it.
Following the attack, tensions escalated between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. India has suspended the crucial Indus Waters Treaty, while Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian airlines.
Asif accused India of using the militant attack as a pretext to suspend the water-sharing agreement and to advance its domestic political agenda.
He criticized India for moving against Pakistan “without any proof, without any investigation,” according to the newspaper.
“We do not want this conflict to escalate, because escalation could bring disaster to the entire region,” Asif said.
A little-known militant group called Kashmir Resistance claimed responsibility for the attack in a message posted on social media.
Indian security officials allege that Kashmir Resistance, also known as The Resistance Front, acts as a cover for Pakistan-based militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Asif rejected that claim during the interview. He asserted that Lashkar-e-Taiba is now “defunct” and no longer has the capability to plan or carry out attacks from Pakistani territory.
“They do not maintain any operational setup in Pakistan,” Asif said, as quoted by the New York Times.
“Those individuals, whatever few remain, are contained. Some are under house arrest, others are in custody. They are not active at all,” he added.
