'Can a thief investigate his own theft?', says Union minister Sukanta Majumdar; Omar Abdullah slams Pakistan PM's offer for neutral probe in Pahalgam attack

NEW DELHI: Union minister Sukanta Majumdar and Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday rejected Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s reported offer for a "neutral investigation" into the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, with Majumdar calling it a "desperate attempt to save face" and Abdullah pointing to Pakistan’s initial denial.
Majumdar, hitting out at Sharif, said, “What investigation will these people do? Can a thief ever investigate his own theft?” Speaking to reporters, he added, “The Prime Minister of Pakistan is saying this out of fear. This fear is good—he should have this fear. When Pakistan is not prepared, that's when we will hit them, and we will hit them hard.”

The Pahalgam attack, which targeted tourists at the Baisaran meadow, left 26 people dead, 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen, and injured several others. India has blamed cross-border terrorist networks for orchestrating the massacre.
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Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah, responding from Ramban, dismissed Pakistan’s offer for a probe outright. “First of all, they did not even recognise that something had happened in Pahalgam. First, they said that India was behind it,” Abdullah said. "For the people who made allegations against us in the first place, it is difficult to say anything about it now. I don't want to give much importance to their statements."

The brutal attack has sparked a sweeping crackdown across Jammu and Kashmir. Security forces have detained over 175 suspects in Anantnag amid intensified day-night anti-terror operations. In Assam, 10 people were arrested for allegedly attempting to justify or whitewash the attack online.
Sharif’s statement has come amid mounting international criticism of Pakistan’s role in fostering terror networks. Union ministers, including Hardeep Singh Puri and Piyush Goyal, have echoed tough warnings, asserting that “Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price,” with Puri calling the neighboring country a "rogue state in terminal decline."
Majumdar and Abdullah’s remarks reflect the growing consensus within India’s political leadership that the time for dialogue is over and action will be decisive.