Pakistan's Involvement in Pahalgam Now Proven

The report of the Monitoring Team of the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee released last week, says, "On 22nd April, terrorists attacked a tourist spot in Pahalgam, J and K. Twenty-six civilians were killed. The attack was claimed that same day by The Resistance Front (TRF), who in parallel published a photograph of the attack site. The claim was repeated the following day." It adds that on 26 April, TRF retracted their statement.

- HARSHA KAKAR

The report also quoted Indian and Pakistan views when it mentioned, "One member state (India) said the attack could not have happened without LeT support, and that there was a relationship between the LeT and TRF. One member state (Pakistan) rejected these views and said LeT was defunct." The report closed by mentioning, "the attack was carried out by TRF, which is synonymous with LeT."

The UN accepted the Indian viewpoint that the LeT and TRF are the same organisation. For the first time the TRF has emerged in a UN document. Decisions taken by the Sanctions Committee are normally unanimously adopted by the UNSC. Pakistan, a current non-permanent member of the UNSC may find it difficult to prevent sanction of the TRF.

On 17 July, the US designated the TRF as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization' and 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist.' Pakistan initially objected to the US decision aware that its claims of the LeT being defunct would have few takers. Subsequently, its foreign minister Ishaq Dar, mentioned, "We have no issue. And we welcome, if they have any evidence, that they are involved." In reality, Pakistan had no choice as it was already announced.

In the same interview, speaking on the UNSC resolution on Pahalgam, Dar added, "We opposed the mention of TRF in the UNSC statement. I got calls from global capitals, but Pakistan will not accept. TRF was deleted, and Pakistan prevailed." If Pakistan was not involved, then why was it so desperate to protect the TRF in the UNSC?

India launched Operation Sindoor as a retaliation to Pakistan's support for the Pahalgam attack. In the short 88-hour operation India forced Pakistan to seek a ceasefire based on heavy losses and abject failure of its strikes. India's victory was marred by Donald Trump claiming credit for ending the conflict.