Pakistan blasts Indian propaganda with on-ground rebuttal

Express Tribune

05-05-2025

In a strong rebuttal to India's baseless and desperate allegations, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Monday pulled the rug out from under New Delhi's claims of so-called terrorist camps in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Speaking from the very sites India had pointed fingers at, Tarar tore into the accusations, dismissing the assertions as a smokescreen to distract from its own internal crises, asserting that international media and observers had outright rejected the propaganda.
Islamabad reiterated its position that false flag operations and doctored maps cannot whitewash the truth or mask India's own misadventures in the region.
"There were so many contradictions and anomalies in their claims. They were unable to prove themselves. We are here proactively on one of the spots where India alleged there were terrorist camps," he told international and local media representatives at Bela Noor Shah, near Pir Chinasi in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He noted that India had a long history of trying to defame Pakistan through fictitious narratives, but said every attempt had crumbled under scrutiny.
Tarar added that media personnel could themselves verify that no terrorist camps existed at the scenic and serene Kashmiri location. He reminded reporters that blaming Pakistan for its own internal issues was nothing new for New Delhi.
Referring to past provocations, Tarar said that in 2019, following the Pulwama attack, India attempted to pin the blame on Pakistan, and in retaliation, its air force merely damaged a few trees in Balakot.
This time, India had released a map claiming that terrorist training camps were located at Bela Noor Shah, near Pir Chinasi.
However, Tarar informed journalists that the area lies 26 kilometres from the Line of Control (LoC) and remains open to tourists year-round. A government school and a private school are also located there, which he said were clear evidence against Indian accusations.
Rejecting completely fabricated Indian claims, the minister emphasised that Pakistan remained a frontline state in the fight against terrorism.
He stressed: "No country has sacrificed 90,000 lives in the war on terrorism to date."
He pointed to irrefutable evidence of Indian involvement in terrorism within Pakistan, highlighting the case of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who remains in Pakistani custody for his role in terrorist activities.
Citing the recent attack on the Jafar Express, Tarar said it was among the most severe terrorist incidents globally and condemned the Indian media's celebratory tone in its aftermath.
He added that Indian outlets had aired footage of the attack, footage obtained from the terrorists, even before Pakistani news channels. Tarar invited journalists to speak to local residents, visit the nearby buildings and schools, and question students about India's claims.