Don’t misjudge our desire for peace as weakness, says Dar

Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Ishaq Dar has reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to regional peace and multilateralism but warned against recent provocations and baseless allegations by India declaring that any act of aggression would be met with a firm and proportionate response.

Mr Dar was speaking at Regional Dialogue 2025 hosted by Institute of Regional Studies (IRS). Mr Dar said that as a responsible country among the polity of nations, Pakistan will always look forward to de-escalation but its desire for peace must not be construed as weakness, he said. He further said that Pakistan has and will always condemn terrorism in all its forms.

He also condemned the rising Islamophobic rhetoric targeting Muslims in India including Kashmiris and questioned India’s move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a grave violation of international obligations.

He questioned the validity of declaring the treaty in abeyance as even an option and remarked that Pakistan considers the act of threatening the stoppage of water as tantamount to an act of war. “We will not give up even a drop of water,” he said.

He stressed the importance of resolving the core issue of Kashmir which he said was the fundamental reason behind the recurring bilateral tensions between India and Pakistan. “Pakistan does not seek conflict. We seek coexistence,” he added, urging for a development-first foreign policy anchored in justice, dignity and international cooperation. Earlier, in his welcome address, Jauhar Saleem, President, IRS, noted that while South Asia faces escalating tensions, climate challenges and economic uncertainty, there remains a vital opportunity for regional states to collaborate. In the wake of recent Pahalgam Attack, he said that Pakistan had consistently demonstrated its commitment to de-escalation, extending a sincere offer to participate in an unbiased, transparent investigation into the unfortunate incident. “We have nothing to fear from the truth, and we believe firmly that only through truth can trust be rebuilt,” he added.