Kapil Sibal urges ICC trial for Pahalgam attackers, terror tag for Pakistan
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New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has strongly condemned the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and demanded that those responsible be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) — a tribunal based in The Hague, Netherlands, that investigates and tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes under international law, including genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.
Sibal has also called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah to initiate steps toward declaring Pakistan a "terrorist state." He stated that those responsible for the attack should face prosecution in the international court, urging the Home Minister to take the necessary measures to proscribe Pakistan and refer the matter to the ICC.
Although India is not a signatory to the Rome Statute — the treaty that governs the ICC — and is not a member of the Assembly of States Parties, which oversees the court's functioning, Sibal expressed confidence that the Opposition, including the Congress party, would support any government-led move in that direction.
Describing the Pahalgam terror attack as a carefully planned act of madness and insanity, Sibal pointed out that the location of the attack — Baisaran Valley — is uphill from Pahalgam and inaccessible by vehicles. He noted that the site’s remoteness would have been a calculated factor in the attackers' planning, as it would delay the arrival of security forces.
He further revealed that the terrorists arrived armed with AK-47s and other weapons, segregated the men at the location, and then targeted them deliberately. According to him, such actions indicate that the attack was well-organized and premeditated.
The attack, which claimed the lives of at least 26 people and injured several others, has sent shockwaves across the country and especially among the local community. In response, locals have called for a shutdown in protest and mourning.
Security forces have since launched intensive search operations in the area to hunt down those responsible. Security has been tightened, and visuals from the usually vibrant tourist destination now show deserted streets, a stark reflection of the fear and grief that has gripped the region.
