Pakistan’s Leadership Stokes Tensions with India Amid Terror Accusations

Islamabad  – A familiar pattern has emerged in South Asia following the recent terror attack in India’s Pahalgam, which claimed 26 civilian lives. Pakistan’s leadership has adopted a defensive posture, framing itself as the victim while escalating rhetorical attacks against India. On Thursday, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir was observed in Jhelum, overseeing choreographed war games and posing for curated photo ops on military tanks. Munir issued a stern warning, stating, “Any misadventure by India would be met with a notched-up response,” signaling Pakistan’s readiness to retaliate forcefully—a stance consistent with his earlier remarks labeling Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein.”

The rhetoric intensified with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former foreign minister and a prominent political figure, who issued contradictory statements. Initially, he threatened India over the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, claiming, “Either the Indus water will flow, or it will be the blood of Indians,” while invoking the legacy of the Indus Valley Civilization as Pakistan’s inheritance. However, in a Sky News interview on May 3, Bhutto Zardari acknowledged Pakistan’s historical links to terrorism, admitting the country “has suffered because of its own choices” and needs reforms, raising questions about his true stance.

Dissent within Pakistan also surfaced, with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, criticizing the army’s role in escalating tensions and cautioning against opening a second front with Afghanistan, citing Pakistan’s limited capacity to manage multiple conflicts. Meanwhile, external voices added to the fray: retired Bangladeshi General Fazlur Rahman suggested on Facebook that Bangladesh should occupy India’s northeast and form an axis with China if India attacks Pakistan, while Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani activist, warned of Punjab’s “liberation” in such a scenario, despite Pakistan’s historical role in displacing Sikhs during Partition.

Analysts view these statements as part of a broader ecosystem of deflection, where Pakistan’s leadership, grappling with internal challenges, projects India as the aggressor to divert attention from domestic failures. This orchestrated display of bravado, however, risks further isolating Pakistan on the global stage as India pursues a multi-pronged response to the Pahalgam attack.