Dar urges India to rethink hostile policies that threaten regional peace, stability
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has urged India to rethink its present hostile and misguided policies that threaten peace and undermine security in South Asia.
Speaking at an event held to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the Institute for Strategic Studies (ISSI), the minister said that amid the global turbulence and transformation, 'Pakistan is charting a forward-looking course as a confident and self-assured nation - resolutely safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity and shouldering its obligations as a responsible member of the international community'.
He said that Pakistan values the efforts of all friendly countries, including the U.S., KSA, UAE, and Türkiye that resulted in preventing further escalation between India and Pakistan and putting the ceasefire in place.
'Going forward, it is essential to consolidate the ceasefire, institute a reliable crisis management mechanism, and develop confidence building measures that would help stabilise the regional security situation,' the foreign minister said.
Dar added that the outcome of the 4-day war with India once again underscored the reality that India can neither intimidate nor coerce Pakistan.
'New Delhi must, therefore, rethink its present hubristic and misguided policies that threaten peace and undermine security in South Asia.'
Meanwhile, the minister said that Pakistan also believes that time has come to re-imagine regional cooperation in South Asia and in our extended neighbourhood.
'The negative impulses of dominance and hegemony have long stymied this process and made SAARC dysfunctional.
Our region instead needs a positive spirit of solidarity, mutually-beneficial collaboration, and shared prosperity,' he said.
On Afghanistan, the deputy PM said that in recent months, Pakistan has purposefully made efforts to reset Pakistan-Afghanistan relations on a positive trajectory.
He said both the countries have agreed to upgrade the diplomatic representation to Ambassadorial level and extend CPEC to Afghanistan.
'If the Interim Afghan Government works with complete sincerity and wholeheartedly, the fruits of our economic cooperation, efforts for regional integration, and connectivity would be enormous.
Not only the people of Afghanistan will benefit tremendously but also the dividends of shared prosperity would extend to Central Asia and beyond.'
The ISSI was founded in1973 and has evolved into one of Pakistan's foremost strategic think-tanks.
It is known for generating quality research, promoting thought leadership, and fostering inclusive dialogue among diverse stakeholders.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
38 minutes ago
- Business Recorder
Dealing with Indian intransigence
EDITORIAL: The failure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's (SCO's) defence ministers' summit to end with the signing of a joint communique marked a rare breakdown in consensus within a forum traditionally known for its predisposition for collective action. The disharmony on display can be directly attributed to India's stubborn refusal to endorse a joint declaration that omitted reference to its version of events with respect to the Pahalgam incident and its narrative on cross-border terrorism. Ever since the Pahalgam tragedy and the stinging defeat that New Delhi was handed during Operation Sindoor, one can observe a hardening pattern of Indian intransigence, where it consistently refuses to explore any avenue for mending ties with Pakistan. This obstinacy not only continues to strain bilateral relations, it is now clearly also derailing multilateral forums, with Indian foreign policy increasingly characterised by obstructionism and an unwillingness to engage in constructive, consensus-driven diplomacy. In fact, one could argue that such obstructionism has long predated recent events, as evidenced by the stagnation of the SAARC forum, which remains effectively paralysed due to India's inflexible posturing. SAARC had the potential to emerge as a dynamic forum, harnessing the collective energy and potential of South Asia; yet today, it lies dormant, crippled by the dysfunctional India-Pakistan relationship. While one could argue that both nations share responsibility for this paralysis, India's disproportionate influence in South Asia has allowed this bilateral dysfunction to completely hijack opportunities for regional cooperation on trade, security, economic connectivity, climate resilience and human development, leaving the entire region poorer in every dimension. Now, the same pattern threatens to undermine more influential forums like the SCO. New Delhi must realise, however, that adopting a similarly rigid approach at the SCO – where heavyweights like Russia and China hold sway – will only serve to deepen its isolation and alienate key forum members that value consensus and pragmatic cooperation. Just days ago, India refused to sign an SCO statement condemning Israeli strikes on Iran, taking issue with Israel being termed as the aggressor, while last year Prime Minister Narendra Modi conspicuously absented himself from the organisation's summits held in Kazakhstan and Pakistan. New Delhi also withdrew from the group's 2030 Economic Development Strategy over fears that it was too China-centric. It goes without saying that while such obstructionism may serve short-term political posturing to cater to a domestic audience, it risks sabotaging India's ambitions for global leadership, as such juvenile brinkmanship is self-defeating and undermines New Delhi's credibility on the world stage. Insofar as the SCO communiqué is concerned, India's inability to convince forum members to endorse its narrative on Pahalgam – failing to produce any evidence to implicate Pakistan even two months after the attack – exposes not only the hollowness of its claims, but also underscores the extreme recklessness of its subsequent actions, from the ill-conceived Operation Sindoor to the unprecedented suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty that threatens to jeopardise Pakistan's water security and food production systems. In this context, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah's recent declaration that the IWT will never be restored and that waters meant for Pakistan will be diverted towards Rajasthan through new canals is highly troubling. Notwithstanding the technical feasibility of such a project, it is New Delhi's unyielding intent on the matter that is truly alarming, as it remains bent upon weaponising water resources. While Pakistan was able to thwart India's designs during the SCO summit, the fact is that ultimate diplomatic victory will be measured by our ability to mobilise sustained international pressure that creates tangible costs for Indian intransigence and secures irreversible protections for the country's water rights. Anything short of this risks severing our agricultural and economic lifelines. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
MQM-P delegation calls on governor
KARACHI: Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori met with a delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) at the Governor House Karachi. The delegation was led by senior party leader Anees Qaimkhani, Sindh Organising Committee Joint In-charge Sajid Khanzada, and Hyderabad Zonal In-charge Zafar Siddiqui. The meeting was also attended by MNAs Waseem Hussain, Abdul Aleem Khan, MPA Muhammad Rashid Khan, and other office-bearers and members of MQM-P. The delegation members extended their heartfelt congratulations to Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori on the performing Hajj. On the occasion, they also presented him with floral garlands and bouquets as a gesture of goodwill and respect. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
India attempting to use water as weapon against Pakistan: Dar
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday accused India of attempting to use water as a weapon against Pakistan, condemning New Delhi's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) as an act of water terrorism. Speaking at the 52nd anniversary of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) – a local think tank dedicated to research and analysis on foreign policy, security, and strategic affairs – Dar warned that Pakistan would not tolerate any infringement on its sovereignty or territorial integrity. He described India's unilateral suspension of the treaty as a threat to the lives of 240 million Pakistanis who rely on the shared river system. 'India cannot impose its will on Pakistan and must reconsider its policies,' he said, adding that any unilateral move to suspend the treaty would be unacceptable and counterproductive. Dar also accused India of aggression under the guise of false-flag operations, referencing the 2019 Pulwama attack as well as the recent Pahalgam incident, and said Pakistan had responded swiftly and effectively. Reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to upholding its rights under international agreements, he said, 'India wants to use water as a weapon, but Pakistan stands firm in protecting its interests.' On the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Dar reiterated Pakistan's call for a peaceful resolution, describing the issue as a globally-recognised conflict critical to regional stability. He accused India of gross violations of international law in the region. Addressing broader regional issues, Dar welcomed the recent ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel and reaffirmed Pakistan's support for Iran's legal position. He called for dialogue to resolve concerns surrounding Iran's nuclear programme. He also condemned ongoing atrocities in Gaza, expressing Pakistan's deep concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory. Highlighting the challenges and opportunities in a multi-polar world, Dar pointed to the peaceful rise of China, Russia's resurgence, and the growing influence of Middle Powers and the Global South. He outlined Pakistan's regional diplomacy efforts, highlighting trilateral frameworks involving China, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to geo-economics, international law, and multilateralism through the United Nations, stating, 'We aim to be the voice of the voiceless and the power of the powerless.' ISSI Director General Sohail Mahmood, a former ambassador, welcomed attendees and praised the unified civil and military response to Indian actions following the Pahalgam incident. He emphasised the importance of preparedness, internal security, and sustained diplomatic efforts. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
