Lawmakers from both government and opposition benches in the Senate declared on Monday their unified support for Pakistan’s security, pledging a “crushing response” to India amid fresh accusations following the Pahalgam incident.
In a session chaired by Deputy Chairman Senate Syedaal Khan, senators firmly dismissed India’s claims as routine political fabrications. They accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of stoking tensions for electoral gain, with several lawmakers pointing to a broader strategy of nationalist posturing ahead of elections.
Barrister Ali Zafar, addressing the House, criticised the Modi government’s repeated blaming of Pakistan. “The world is not foolish,” he said, warning that India’s real aim was to undermine the Indus Waters Treaty, an act he described as tantamount to declaring war.
“India has repeatedly violated the Indus Waters Treaty. Unilaterally suspending it would be illegal, and any attempt to block Pakistan’s water supply will be considered an open declaration of war,” Zafar cautioned.
Senator Faisal Vawda struck a defiant tone, asserting that Pakistan would “pulverise” India if provoked. He called for an all-parties conference to present a united political front, warning that any conflict could engulf the wider region. Vawda also highlighted that measures like airspace closures had previously hurt India’s economy.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui turned attention to India’s human rights abuses in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), stating that over 90,000 Kashmiris had been martyred. He criticised India for becoming “the largest graveyard for Muslims” and questioned the speed with which Pakistan was blamed for the Pahalgam attack, suggesting the accusations were pre-planned.
Opposition Leader Senator Shibli Faraz labelled India’s actions as acts of war and warned that Pakistan’s armed forces were fully prepared for any confrontation. He noted that the timing of the allegations was strategic, aimed at distracting from domestic challenges within India.
Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said that India’s policies, rooted in Hindutva extremism, have intensified regional divisions and worsened the marginalisation of minorities. Despite severe repression, he noted, the resistance in Kashmir remains steadfast.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered “neutral and transparent” support for an investigation into the Pahalgam attack. In a strong warning to New Delhi, he said any violation of the Indus Waters Treaty or military provocation would meet with a decisive response, referencing Pakistan’s actions during the 2019 Balakot crisis.
“Kashmir is Pakistan’s jugular vein,” the Prime Minister declared, stressing that Pakistan’s peace efforts should never be mistaken for weakness.
India had accused Pakistan of involvement in the Pahalgam attack without presenting evidence, a move analysts see as consistent with Modi’s strategy of rallying nationalist sentiment ahead of elections.
