Islamabad: In an interview with Indian television network NDTV on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasised the necessity of an evidence based approach to international security matters, declining to equate Pakistan’s government actions with state terrorism.

When questioned about ongoing violence in Gaza, Ibrahim characterised Israel’s military campaign against Hamas as "state terrorism." However, when NDTV interviewer Vishnu Som attempted to draw a parallel to the Pahalgam attack in Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives in April 2025, Ibrahim drew a distinction between acts of terrorism and state sponsorship.

"None of my intelligence establishment, their engagement with India, could come back and tell me, 'See, Anwar, yes, there is state sponsored terrorism there,'" Ibrahim stated, adding that as Prime Minister he must rely on verified facts.

While acknowledging that terrorist acts had indeed occurred, Ibrahim refused to attribute blame to the Pakistani state without verifiable proof. The Pahalgam incident triggered a military escalation in May 2025 between the two nuclear armed neighbours. Islamabad has consistently denied involvement, calling instead for a transparent international investigation a proposal Malaysia supported.

Ibrahim reaffirmed his close diplomatic relations with both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Pakistani leadership, reiterating Malaysia’s willingness to assist in easing regional tensions through constructive dialogue rather than unsourced accusations.