![]() |
Phalgham |
Switzerland and Greece have welcomed Pakistan’s proposal for an independent probe into the shooting incident at a tourist spot in disputed state of Kashmir last month.
The Foreign Office said on Saturday that the Swiss government has also offered to assist in a transparent investigation.
The attack on a popular tourist spot in Pahalgam on April 22 killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, which Islamabad has repeatedly denied.
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed countries increased after the attack, with India imposing trade and shipping restrictions and suspending the Indus Waters Treaty.
Pakistan has demanded an impartial and transparent international probe into the incident and warned that any military action would be met with a befitting response, although Islamabad does not want to escalate tensions.
![]() |
Elderberry trees in Kashmir |
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar spoke to the foreign ministers of Switzerland and Greece over the phone and presented his country’s position on the situation.
The Foreign Office quoted Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis in a social media post, saying that the Foreign Minister “appreciated Pakistan’s commitment to peace and supported its proposal for an investigation.”
According to the statement, after a telephone conversation between the two leaders, Cassis said that “Switzerland is ready to offer its services to assist in an impartial investigation and to find appropriate mechanisms.”
According to another social media post, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapretis also welcomed Pakistan’s proposal for an impartial investigation and stressed the importance of restraint to avoid escalation and maintain regional stability.
A day earlier, Ishaq Dar spoke to European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaya Kalas, who stressed the need for dialogue between the two nuclear-armed South Asian countries for regional peace and stability.
The Pakistani deputy prime minister told the three European officials that Islamabad rejects India’s allegations and unilateral actions, such as the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
He called India’s decision to “keep the treaty in suspension” a violation of international law.
Pakistan and India have fought several wars over the issue of Kashmir, which both countries claim in full but control in part. The renewed diplomatic engagement comes amid fears of further tensions after the Pahalgam attack.