By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan on Thursday strongly rejected India's decision to file charges against leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) in a decades-old case and dismissed New Delhi's allegations linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack as "baseless" and politically motivated.

Speaking at the Foreign Ministry's weekly news briefing, spokesperson Tahir Andarabi accused India of using legal proceedings and public allegations to advance political objectives and discredit the Kashmiri independence movement.

Addressing the recent chargesheet filed by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) against six APHC leaders, including the late Syed Ali Geelani, in connection with a 1996 mob violence case, Andarabi said Pakistan "unequivocally condemns and rejects" the move.

He described the case as "yet another manifestation of India's continuing policy of using sham legal processes to target the Kashmiri political leadership and discredit a legitimate indigenous struggle" for the right to self-determination.

"The decision to revive a case relating to events three decades old lays bare the extent to which India's investigative and judicial institutions are being employed to advance a political agenda," Andarabi said.

He added that including deceased Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani in the chargesheet further demonstrated what Pakistan viewed as the political nature of the exercise.

According to Andarabi, legal actions against Kashmiri leaders cannot alter what Pakistan describes as the internationally recognized disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir or undermine the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination under United Nations Security Council resolutions.

He also accused India of attempting to divert international attention from alleged human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir.

- Rejects allegations over Pahalgam attack

Responding to another question, Andarabi rejected India's designation of several individuals, including Pakistani nationals, as terrorists in connection with the Pahalgam attack in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He said Pakistan "categorically rejects" what it called India's attempts to link Islamabad to the attack without presenting credible evidence.

"Pakistan has repeatedly called for an independent, transparent and credible investigation into the incident," he said, adding that India had yet to provide verifiable evidence supporting its allegations.

He argued that New Delhi's refusal to allow independent scrutiny raised questions about the credibility of its claims.

"Rather than engaging constructively with Pakistan and allowing the facts to emerge through an objective investigation, India continues to rely on rhetoric, disinformation and media sensationalism," Andarabi said.

He maintained that such an approach neither serves justice nor contributes to regional peace and stability.

The spokesperson also urged India to focus on what Pakistan alleges are its own policies in Indian illegally occupied Kashmir and accused New Delhi of supporting activities that Pakistan has repeatedly raised with the international community.

Andarabi said lasting peace in South Asia could only be achieved through adherence to international law, respect for the UN Charter and the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue.

He said accusations against Pakistan without substantiated evidence were aimed primarily at a domestic audience and would not help reduce tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.