There’s an old saying that resonates deeply with me these days, echoing constantly as I watch events unfold across our border: the thief is often the one shouting loudest. It feels painfully true when I look at India. For what feels like an eternity – stretching back decades – my country, Pakistan, and indeed other parts of the world, have felt the tremors of violence, I believe India has actively sponsored. And yet, with staggering consistency, it’s India’s voice that rings out loudest, pointing fingers at Pakistan after every tragic incident, seemingly never offering a single shred of concrete proof. It’s a wearying, frustrating reality – living under the shadow of accusations while knowing, deep down, that the accuser’s own hands are far from clean.

This isn’t just politics; it feels personal. It’s a deliberate strategy I’ve watched unfold time and again: an attack happens, shockwaves ripple, and before the victims are even counted, the narrative is set in stone – Pakistan is to blame. The recent heart-wrenching attack in Pahalgam, Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, saw 26 lives tragically lost. Our government, reflecting national values and Islamic teachings, unequivocally condemns terrorism in all forms. But the familiar, frustrating pattern emerged instantly. As the DG ISPR, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, rightly questioned, how could an FIR be registered within 10 minutes of the incident, already assuming cross-border involvement, given the remoteness of the attack site – a 30-minute distance from the nearest police station over hilly, unfriendly terrain? It speaks volumes about a pre-determined script rather than an objective investigation. It feels like India’s reflex action: distract everyone from its own long, troubling history of fanning instability.........

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