CHARSADDA: Qaumi Watan Party central chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has termed the Pahalgam incident a failure of Indian security forces, saying that New Delhi adopted an aggressive approach and started levelling allegations of terrorism against Pakistan without any evidence.

Sherpao expressed these views while talking to mediapersons in Tangi area here on Sunday.

“The nation is united and will strongly resist any aggression with the support of its army,” he remarked.

He said the Modi government was spreading baseless and negative propaganda against Pakistan to save its skin.

“Attack on the Jaffar Express and the Pahalgam incident show that some powers, including the US and India, are actively working to thwart CPEC,” he claimed.

Insists some powers don’t want Gwadar, CPEC projects to succeed

Sherpao said these powers didn’t want the Gwadar or CPEC projects to succeed in Pakistan, adding that in the current situation, brotherly countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, etc should play their due role to defuse tensions.

He said that China had great importance in this region and should also play its sincere role in this situation.

QWP’s provincial chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao and other leaders were also present on the occasion.

Aftab Sherpao said that the Modi government’s suspension of Indus Water Treaty was a violation of the international laws.

“Water is our right and we will not leave even a single drop of water to anyone,” he said.

Regarding the release of water into the Jhelum River without notification, he said the Indian act was also against the treaty.

He said that quick response of the National Security Council and the government of Pakistan to Modi government’s threats was commendable, saying that Pakistan Army was capable of giving a befitting reply to any aggression.

He said that the Modi government was making baseless allegations against Pakistan to hide its incompetence.

He said that India’s opposition parties were also calling the Modi government’s allegations baseless.

The government, he said should raise its voice at every international forum regarding the release of water in the Jhelum River without any prior notification by India.

He said there was no fear of war and India was putting pressure on Pakistan due to economic weaknesses and political instability.

He said that India will think 100 times before attacking Pakistan because the latter was a nuclear power.

Aftab Sherpao said that US President Donald Trump had announced to play a mediating role in Pakistan-India tensions, but had now backed down from his commitment.

He said that if America considered itself a superpower, it should play a sincere role in calming down the situation between Pakistan and India.

LAID TO REST: Lance Naik Usman Alam Mohmand, who was martyred during an operation against militants in North Waziristan, was laid to rest with full military honour in his native Abazai Tangi village here.

People from different walks of life, including army officials, attended his funeral prayers.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2025