The bloodshed in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, was not just another tragic entry in Kashmir’s troubled history — it was a brutal reminder of the dangerous games nations still play with terror. As India mourned the loss of 26 lives in one of the deadliest attacks in recent years, Pakistan responded in predictable fashion: by calling for a "neutral probe," seeking to distance itself from the carnage. Yet again, Pakistan’s claim to neutrality rings hollow, while India stands resolute, demanding accountability, not apologies.
Pakistan’s "Neutrality": A Tired, Transparent Strategy
Immediately after the attack, Indian intelligence agencies traced links to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a group operating with long-documented support from Pakistan's military establishment. Predictably, instead of confronting the allegations head-on or cooperating meaningfully, Islamabad issued a familiar statement — expressing "deep concern" and demanding a "neutral international investigation."
This call for neutrality is not new. It is an old ploy, designed not to uncover the truth but to cloud it. Every major terror attack originating from Pakistani soil — from the 2001 Indian Parliament assault to Mumbai 2008 and Pulwama 2019 — has been followed by Pakistan’s loud denials, demands for neutral probes, and orchestrated indignation. Each time, the pattern remains the same: first deny, then deflect, and finally drown the discourse in diplomatic jargon.
By calling for neutrality after the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan is not offering cooperation; it is offering a smokescreen. It seeks to shift the burden of proof onto the victims rather than addressing the cancer festering within its own borders.
India’s Clear and Firm Stand
India’s response has been clear and unapologetic. The government has firmly laid the blame at Pakistan’s doorstep, backed by intercepted communications, human intelligence, and satellite data linking the attackers to handlers across the border. New Delhi has categorically rejected Islamabad’s hollow neutrality narrative and instead demanded tangible action.
India's stand reflects a broader shift in its security doctrine. Gone are the days of restrained diplomacy; today, India matches diplomatic statements with real-world action. Following the Pahalgam massacre, India immediately:
• Revoked diplomatic privileges for Pakistani officials.
• Suspended further elements of the Indus Waters Treaty, tightening water diplomacy.
• Cut off remaining backchannel communication lines.
• Mobilized international allies to expose Pakistan’s terror apparatus at global forums like the United Nations and the FATF.
New Delhi has made it clear: talks and terror cannot coexist. There will be no normalization of ties until Pakistan dismantles its terror networks, not merely on paper, but on the ground.
The Broader Implications
The Pahalgam attack and its diplomatic fallout come at a time when global tolerance for state-sponsored terrorism is wearing thin. Pakistan’s credibility, already weakened by years of evidence of complicity, faces further erosion. India, on the other hand, is increasingly seen as a responsible power defending itself against an unrelenting campaign of proxy war.
Moreover, India’s strong stand resonates domestically. After years of public anger over cross-border attacks, the government’s tough stance reassures its citizens that national security is not up for negotiation.
Internationally too, there is growing understanding that neutrality cannot be an excuse for inaction. Countries cannot be allowed to fund terror networks on one hand and plead innocence on the other.
Pakistan’s demands for a "neutral" investigation are not a cry for justice — they are a strategy of denial. India’s stand, built on evidence, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to protecting its people, must be supported.
The time has come for the international community to move beyond polite condemnations and hold enablers of terrorism accountable. Pahalgam must not be forgotten. Justice must not be delayed. And neutrality must not be allowed to become the new face of complicity.