In the wake of the brutal terrorist attack in Kashmir that left 26 innocent lives lost, Pakistan’s call for a "neutral probe" reeks of insincerity and calculated deflection. For decades, Pakistan has harbored, nurtured, and unleashed terrorist outfits as instruments of state policy. Now, when the blood on its hands is fresh, it tries to masquerade as a concerned, impartial actor.

India, and indeed the world, sees through this charade.

The attack in Pahalgam bore all the trademarks of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a group that has long enjoyed safe haven and active patronage within Pakistan's borders. India’s intelligence findings are clear, corroborated by years of evidence that connect the dots between Pakistan’s military-intelligence complex and terror activities in Kashmir. For Pakistan to now demand a "neutral" investigation is not just hypocritical — it is an insult to the victims, to justice, and to global efforts against terrorism.

This tactic is hardly new. Each time there is a major terrorist atrocity traced back to its soil — whether Mumbai in 2008, Pulwama in 2019, or countless others — Pakistan’s knee-jerk response is to feign ignorance, demand "proof," and then call for "neutral inquiries," all while shielding the masterminds behind closed doors. It is a carefully crafted strategy: delay, deflect, and deny until the world’s attention moves on.

But the world is no longer blind.

Today's geopolitical reality demands accountability, not theatrics. Pakistan’s image as a “safe haven for terrorists” is no longer just India’s accusation — it is a global consensus. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) repeatedly placed Pakistan on its "grey list" for its failure to curb terror financing. Its internal political factions openly court extremist groups during elections. Its promises to dismantle terrorist infrastructure have proven time and again to be empty words.

Neutrality, in the face of overwhelming guilt, is not neutrality at all — it is abdication of responsibility.

If Pakistan were serious about a fair investigation, it would first dismantle the terror camps flourishing on its soil. It would arrest and prosecute those leaders who preach hatred and violence from public platforms. It would stop treating cross-border terrorism as an acceptable tool of statecraft.

Until then, no call for neutrality can be taken seriously. It is not an offer of cooperation; it is a cynical attempt to dodge culpability.

India has every right — and indeed, the duty — to expose Pakistan’s duplicity and hold it accountable. The international community must stand with India, not merely with words of sympathy, but with actions that demand consequences for those who continue to treat terrorism as a weapon.

The world cannot allow another tragedy to be buried under the weight of Pakistan’s false neutrality. Justice demands more.