Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has called on India to revise its current approach towards Pakistan, asserting that New Delhi cannot impose its will on Islamabad. He warned that Pakistan will not allow India to hold its population of 240 million hostage, nor accept any unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), Dar highlighted the organization's pivotal role in policymaking, diplomacy, and the academic sector, describing ISSI as Pakistan’s premier strategic think tank.
“Pakistan is committed to safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he stated, emphasizing that the country remains a responsible member of the international community amid ongoing global transformations.
Referring to a past incident, Dar accused India of staging a "false flag operation" in Pahalgam to justify aggression against Pakistan. “We responded swiftly and effectively to Indian aggression,” he said.
On the longstanding Kashmir dispute, the deputy prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s demand for a resolution in accordance with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. “Sustainable peace in the region is impossible without resolving the Kashmir issue,” he said, stressing Pakistan's adherence to the principle of peaceful coexistence.
Turning to the Middle East, Dar voiced serious concern over recent developments, particularly condemning Israeli aggression against Iran. “Pakistan supports Iran’s right to self-defense,” he noted.
He welcomed the recent ceasefire between Israel and Iran but strongly criticized Israeli actions in Gaza, describing them as genocidal. “There is no precedent in history for the brutality being inflicted on defenseless Palestinians,” he said. He urged the international community to take urgent steps to halt Israeli atrocities, insisting that peace in the Middle East is unattainable without justice for Palestinians.
