Pakistan ready to ‘defend sovereignty,’ says PM

Pakistan’s leader said yesterday he was ready to defend the country after a deadly attack in Indian-run Kashmir that New Delhi blames on Islamabad, sending already fraught relations into a tailspin with soldiers exchanging gunfire across their contested frontier.

- 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also called for a “neutral investigation”, with India accusing Pakistan of supporting “cross-border terrorism” after gunmen carried out the worst attack on civilians in Muslim-majority Kashmir for a quarter of a century.

Islamabad denies involvement in the April 22 attack targeting tourists in Pahalgam, where a gang of gunmen killed 26 men.

“Our valiant armed forces remain fully capable and prepared to defend the country’s sovereignty,” Mr Sharif said at a military ceremony in Abbottabad.

Both sides have imposed a slew of diplomatic measures, while Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged gunfire overnight in Kashmir for a second day running, the Indian army said yesterday.