Bureau, April 24, 2025 – In an emotional statement released through a video message, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Deputy Chief Saifullah Kasuri, also known as Khalid, denied any involvement in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives on April 22. Visibly tearful, Kasuri accused unnamed actors of attempting to “disturb peace in Pakistan” while condemning India’s decision to suspend the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and expel Pakistani nationals as part of retaliatory measures.
The attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow, which targeted tourists and involved the selective killing of non-Muslims, was initially claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a group Indian intelligence agencies link to LeT. Indian authorities identified Kasuri as the mastermind, alleging that the operation involved Pakistani nationals and local Kashmiris trained across the border. However, in his video statement, Kasuri rejected these accusations, stating, “We had no role in the Pahalgam attack. This is a conspiracy to defame us and destabilize Pakistan.”
Kasuri’s denial comes at a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, following India’s announcement on April 23 to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, a critical agreement that allocates 80% of the Indus River system’s water to Pakistan. The treaty’s suspension threatens Pakistan’s agricultural backbone and water security, exacerbating an already severe water crisis in the country. India also expelled Pakistani military advisors from New Delhi, closed the Attari-Wagah border, and banned Pakistani nationals from entering under the SAARC visa exemption scheme, citing Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorism as justification.
In his statement, Kasuri framed India’s actions as an attack on Pakistan’s survival. “India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a lifeline for our people, and is now expelling Pakistanis,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion. “This is not just an assault on Pakistan but on humanity itself. Someone is trying to disturb peace in our country, and India is exploiting this to choke us.” He did not specify who he believed was behind the alleged conspiracy but suggested that external forces might be manipulating the situation to provoke conflict.
Kasuri also issued a stark warning to the international community, urging nations not to support India’s actions. “The world must not back India in this aggression,” he cautioned. “If you stand with India, you are standing against justice and the survival of millions of Pakistanis who depend on this water. History will judge those who remain silent.” His remarks appeared aimed at rallying global support for Pakistan, particularly from allies like China and Turkey, and at pressuring the United Nations and the World Bank—the original broker of the IWT—to intervene.
Pakistan’s government has yet to formally respond to Kasuri’s statement, but officials in Islamabad have signaled their intent to internationalize the issue. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced that the National Security Committee would convene on April 24 to address India’s actions, with plans to raise the matter at the United Nations. Pakistani media outlets, including Dawn and Geo News, reported growing public anger over the treaty suspension, with protests planned in Lahore and Karachi to demand global intervention.
The LeT deputy chief’s denial and emotional appeal have added a new layer of complexity to the unfolding crisis. While India insists that Kasuri and LeT orchestrated the Pahalgam attack, his statement may resonate with segments of the Pakistani public and international observers skeptical of India’s unilateral moves. However, Kasuri’s credibility remains questionable, given LeT’s designation as a terrorist organization by the United Nations, the United States, and several other countries, and its documented history of orchestrating attacks in India, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
As the fallout from the Pahalgam attack continues to reverberate, the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty has elevated the stakes in India-Pakistan relations to a critical level. With both nations digging in, the international community faces mounting pressure to mediate and prevent further escalation in a region already on edge.
