Pak Senate slams India for linking Pahalgam terror attack to Islamabad

Amid Indo-Pakistan tensions, Pakistan's Senate on Friday passed a resolution rejecting India's "frivolous and baseless attempts" to link the country with the Pahalgam terror attack.

The attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar moved the resolution, which got across-the-board support from parties in the upper house of parliament.

"Pakistan remains fully capable and prepared to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any aggression, including water terrorism or military provocation," the resolution said.

The resolution, rejecting all "frivolous and baseless attempts" to link Pakistan with the attack, said killing innocent civilians was against the values upheld by Pakistan.

It condemned the orchestrated and mala fide campaign by the Indian government to malign Pakistan, which follows a familiar pattern of exploiting the issue of terrorism for a narrow political goal.

The resolution also condemned India's declaration to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and said the move amounted to "an act of war.

Earlier, the deputy prime minister informed the house that the Foreign Office briefed diplomats from 26 countries about the current situation in the region.

He said Pakistan's armed forces were fully prepared to respond to any Indian misadventure and added that any such move would be met in kind, similar to the past.

The resolution comes a day after the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting by top civilian and military leaders in Pakistan put the Simla Agreement and other bilateral accords with India on hold, suspended all trade, and closed its airspace for Indian airlines.

On Thursday, Islamabad also closed the Wagah border post, cancelled visas given to Indians under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), and asked military advisers at the Indian High Commission to leave mirroring steps taken by India over the Pahalgam terror attack.

India on Wednesday suspended the Indus Water Treaty and downgraded diplomatic ties with Islamabad.