Days after the horrific terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed 28 lives, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday made his first public comments, offering Pakistan’s cooperation for a "neutral, transparent and credible investigation" into the tragedy.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sharif said, "The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game, which must come to a grinding halt. Continuing with its role as a responsible country, Pakistan is open to participating in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation," as reported by NDTV.

The Pahalgam attack, which occurred on April 22, is considered the deadliest strike against civilians in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. Armed terrorists, believed to be between five and six in number, targeted tourists at the popular Baisaran meadows near Pahalgam, killing 28 people, including 27 tourists and a local pony guide.

Hours after the massacre, the Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow outfit linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), initially claimed responsibility. However, amid escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, TRF later issued a statement denying any role in the attack. "TRF unequivocally denies any involvement in the Pahalgam incident. Any attribution of this act to TRF is false, hasty," the terror group said in a message that has been widely circulated on social media platforms.

In response to the attack and Pakistan’s perceived role in harboring terror networks, New Delhi announced a set of punitive measures. On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri outlined five-point sanctions against Pakistan, including the suspension of the historic Indus Waters Treaty. The measures were finalized during a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.