India attacked us using Pahalgam incident as a pretext: Explosive allegation by Pak PM
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made a serious allegation that India used the April 22 Pahalgam attack as a pretext to launch military action against Pakistan. In an address to the nation, Shehbaz Sharif described the ceasefire agreement between the two countries as a “historic victory” for Pakistan. He praised the country’s armed forces for what he claimed was an effective response to Indian aggression.
Notably, Sharif delivered this speech just hours after India and Pakistan agreed to halt all forms of military operations — on land, air, and sea — following several days of intense border tensions. Emphasizing a strong nationalist message, Shehbaz Sharif said, “Our actions were against hatred, aggression, and religious extremism. This is a victory for our principles and our dignity. We undertook this action against a worthy adversary befitting a proud nation. This is not merely a victory of the armed forces, but a triumph of the entire nation.”
Sharif attempted to portray the ceasefire not as the outcome of diplomatic negotiations initiated by Islamabad, but rather as the result of Pakistan’s military strength. “We decided to respond in a language the enemy clearly understands,” he declared. He stated that this agreement stood as evidence that Pakistan is a nation of self-respect and integrity.
Sharif further claimed that Pakistan’s armed forces had destroyed Indian air bases and arms depots. However, Indian officials rejected these accusations as fabrications. Field-level footage confirmed that Indian air bases remained secure and that no damage had been inflicted on infrastructure, directly contradicting Sharif’s assertions.
In his nearly 20-minute televised address, Shehbaz Sharif appeared to attempt to reframe the entire situation. He alleged that India had unjustly declared war on Pakistan using the Pahalgam incident as a justification, thereby attempting to paint Pakistan as a victim. He further alleged that Indian forces had targeted civilians, mosques, and basic infrastructure. These claims were strongly denied by Indian authorities, who condemned them as misinformation. The Indian government clarified that its retaliatory actions were carefully executed to avoid harm to Pakistani civilians, in accordance with established protocols.