Russia and China may participate in investigation into Kashmir terror attack

Russia and China may join the international investigation into the terrorist attack in the Pahalgam region of the Indian-controlled state of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said in an interview with Sputnik news agency.

The minister stressed that Islamabad does not intend to start a military conflict, but if India escalates tensions, Pakistan will give a befitting response. "If India tries to invade or attack Pakistan, we will give a befitting response," Mohammad Asif said.

It should be recalled that on April 22, gunmen opened fire on tourists in the Pahalgam region of Jammu and Kashmir. The incident killed 27 people and injured many others.

Indian officials blamed the attack on infiltrators from Pakistan. Delhi then announced the termination of the Indus River Water Treaty , ordered Pakistani consultants working in New Delhi to leave the country within a week, and canceled visas for Pakistani citizens .

Pakistan has strongly denied the allegations and has reduced the number of staff at the Indian diplomatic mission in Islamabad. Pakistani officials have also said that they will consider any move by India to stop or alter the flow of water in the Indus River basin as an act of war .

In addition, the Pakistani government completely suspended trade relations with India and closed its airspace to Indian aircraft.