Gunmen Involved In Indian Kashmir Tourist Attack Killed: Minister
The heavily-armed men were killed in a military operation on Monday, more than three months after 26 people were gunned down in a popular resort town of Indian Kashmir on April 22.
"I want to tell the parliament (that) those who attacked in Baisaran were three terrorists and all three have been killed," he said.
Shah said all three were Pakistani nationals and identified two of them as members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group based in Pakistan.
"Indian security agencies have detailed evidence of their involvement in the attack," he said in a speech in the lower house of parliament.
Monday's operation took place in the mountains of Dachigam, around 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the disputed region's main city of Srinagar, the army said in a statement.
The attack in April saw gunmen burst out of forests near Pahalgam and rake crowds of visitors with automatic weapons.
All those killed were listed as residents of India except one man from Nepal.
Survivors said gunmen had separated the men from the women and children and ordered some of the men to recite the Muslim declaration of faith.
India accused Pakistan of backing the attackers, a charge Islamabad denied, sparking an intense four-day conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals in May that killed more than 70 people on both sides.
Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947, and the neighbours -- who both claim the region in full -- have fought two wars and several conflicts over its control.
Shah said a security meeting was held immediately after the attack and it was decided that the attackers should not be "allowed to leave the country and return to Pakistan".
Investigators relied on eyewitness accounts and forensic evidence to establish that the rifles found on the men were the same that were used in the April attack, he said.
"It was confirmed that these three rifles were involved in killing of our innocent civilians," said Shah.
A shadowy group called The Resistance Front (TRF) initially claimed responsibility for the April attack.
But as public criticism mounted over the killings, the group retracted its claim.
Earlier this month, the United States described the TRF as a "front and proxy" of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
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The energy partnership was unveiled by Trump before the White House on Thursday announced a broader trade agreement with Pakistan, and soon thereafter a 19% tariff rate on Pakistani imports to the US. This is lower than the previous rate of 29% Both countries also hailed the US-Pakistan trade agreement. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called it a "landmark deal" that would "enhance our growing cooperation." The Finance Ministry said the deal marked the "beginning of a new era of economic collaboration especially in energy, mines and minerals, IT, cryptocurrency and other sectors," On Friday, Pakistan welcomed the new, lowered, tariff rate, with the Finance Ministry calling it a " balanced and forward-looking approach" from the US. "This development marks an intriguing shift in Pakistan–US relations; from a traditionally geopolitical and strategic partnership toward a more economically focused cooperation," Azeem Khalid, a New York based international affairs expert, told DW. Pakistan's tariff rate is also lower than the 25% imposed on arch-rival neighbor India. In announcing the oil deal, Trump took a jab at New Delhi, quipping that India could one day buy Pakistani oil. "Who knows, maybe they'll be selling oil to India someday!" To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video However, it seems that as of now, oil is flowing in the opposite direction. On Friday, Reuters news agency reported that Pakistan's largest oil refiner, Cnergyico, said it would import 1 million barrels of US crude oil in October via its trading partner, Vitol, a Dutch energy and commodity trading company. "If it is commercially viable and available, we could import at least one cargo per month," Cnergyico's Vice Chairman Usama Qureshi told Reuters. As for Pakistani oil, before this deal, Pakistan made several unsuccessful attempts at offshore exploration in the offshore Indus basin. Estimates of Pakistan's proven recoverable conventional crude oil reserves range from 234 million to 353 million barrels, positioning the country approximately 50th in the world in terms of oil reserves. Untapped oil reserves are believed to be located in Balochistan, with additional prospects in Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As the center of an armed insurgent movement that frequently carries out attacks, developing resources in Balochistan presents security problems. Baloch insurgents perceive resource extraction as a form of economic exploitation by Pakistan's federal government and frequently target these kind of projects with attacks. According to trade law expert Osama Malik, extraction of oil from Balochistan could further alienate a population that is already disgruntled at the exploration of the province's mineral resources by China. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Experts have expressed cautious optimism about the recent deal, as it may attract investment, introduce advanced extraction technologies, and facilitate new field surveys. However, actual extraction of petroleum products remains uncertain without confirmed reserves and the necessary infrastructure in place. "When American companies establish a presence in Balochistan, it is anticipated that the insurgency will not be at its peak," Qamar Cheema, a security analyst, told DW. "As support for these groups diminishes it will lead to a reduction or potential elimination of the insurgency," he added. The US has strategic interests in Balochistan due to its proximity to Iran and Afghanistan. "Washington is focused on establishing a presence in Balochistan, which is rich in minerals and holds significant strategic value due to its proximity to Iran," Cheema said. Washington views Balochistan as a potential monitoring and pressure point for Iranian activities, particularly amid ongoing tensions regarding Iran's nuclear program and its regional influence. The agreement also carries potential implications as Washington aims to reduce Pakistan's growing reliance on China. "Islamabad will also have to balance between the considerable Chinese investment in the energy and mineral sector and future investment by the US," said trade law expert Malik. China is investing billions into developing rail and road links in Pakistan. The $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project is intended for shipping Chinese goods via the Xinjiang region across the mountain border through Pakistan and into the Arabian Sea at Balochistan's Gwadar port. "From China's perspective, the entry of US companies into Pakistan's resource exploration sector presents a competitive challenge to Chinese oil and mineral firms. Yet, considering the historical depth of Pakistan–China relations, this situation may serve as a diplomatic bridge rather than a point of contention," said international affairs expert Azeem Khalid. Security expert Cheema, believes Pakistan relies on China for military equipment and on the United States for macroeconomic stability, particularly through the IMF. "This deal is likely to strengthen the economic partnership between Pakistan and the US. Additionally, the US seeks to establish an alternative ally in the region other than India," said Cheema.
