Pakistan rejects use of aggression as policy tool

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday said it was seriously concerned at the trends of using aggression as a tool of policy and reaffirmed that in its pursuit to peace and security, it believes in non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, non-use of force or threat of its use in international relations, as well as seeking no unilateral military superiority in the region.

It underlined that unilateral and illegal measures to change the status of disputed territories in violation of UN Security Council resolutions must be strongly condemned and opposed by all.

“We emphasise on resolution of longstanding disputes through peaceful means, dialogue, diplomacy and according to the principles of international law, justice and fairness. Pakistan reaffirms its adherence to the goals and principles of Charters of the UN, the SCO and other universally recognised principles and norms of international law,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, during the Meeting of SCO Council of Foreign Ministers in Tianjin, China.

While Pakistan seeks a relationship of peace and stability with all its neighbors, the last three months witnessed extremely disturbing developments in South Asia. It is most unfortunate that the attribution of the Pahalgam attack to Pakistan – without a credible investigation or verifiable evidence – brought the two nuclear-armed states to the brink of a major conflict.

“In the wake of mounting tensions, Pakistan’s restrained and responsible approach was met with legal transgressions, rhetorical belligerence and strategic recklessness,” said Dar.

Pointing to India’s unjustified military attack on Pakistan in May, the deputy prime minister reassured the SCO members that Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to the ceasefire and the cultivation of a stable regional equilibrium.

“However, we cannot accept that the arbitrary use of force is normalised. We believe that disputes and differences are resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, instead of conflict and coercion. In that backdrop, initiation of a comprehensive and structured dialogue can meaningfully address the full spectrum of issues that have long bedeviled the peace and security in South Asia. Strict adherence to bilateral agreements would be equally important in this regard,” he added.

“The events unfolding since 22 April 2025 also reaffirm a central truth of South Asian geopolitics… the peaceful settlement of the longstanding unresolved disputes is imperative for an enduring peace in the region,” he further added.

Recognising the need to strengthen SCO structures in line with contemporary requirements and evolving challenges, Pakistan supported the ongoing modernisation process and remains constructively engaged in its advancement.

“The establishment of four new centres dealing with various aspects of security would strengthen cooperation among SCO countries. In the context of reforms, we must also decide English as the third official and working language and strengthen the capacity and role of the secretariat to enhance the efficiency of our organisation,” he said.

At the outset, the foreign minister strongly condemned the unjustified and illegitimate aggression by Israel against Iran and the US strikes on its nuclear facilities.

“Such illegal actions directed against SCO member states are unacceptable. Israel has shown a reckless disregard for international norms and humanity through its relentless and disproportionate use of force in Gaza resulting in the death of tens of thousands of civilians causing the worst humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We call for immediate halt to Israel’s atrocities. The only viable remedy to Palestine dispute is the realisation of two-state solution which includes the establishment of Palestine as a viable, secure and contiguous state on the basis of pre-1967 borders with Al Quds as its capital,” he added.

Turning to Afghanistan, Dar emphasized that enduring peace and stability in Afghanistan constitute a cornerstone of our shared aspiration. In this context, the revival of SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group could serve as a valuable platform for pragmatic and results-oriented cooperation.

“Terrorism is the common concern of humanity that threatens the global security. All forms of terrorism including state terrorism are condemnable. We must shun the use of terrorism for political purposes and combat this menace through a cooperative approach including addressing its root causes,” he said.

Pakistan strongly believes that the SCO is a vital platform for realising the benefits of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project of BRI, not only supplements SCO’s vision of regional connectivity and economic integration but also complements our common objective of shared development and prosperity, he added.

“We need to take concrete steps within existing SCO’s mechanisms for trade and development and promote the use of national currencies for mutual settlement within SCO region to avoid international financial shocks. We support the proposal to create SCO alternative development funding mechanism to give needed impetus to various stalled development initiatives,” he underlined.

Meanwhile, DPM Dar met Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the SCO CFM. During the meeting, both the dignitaries expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral ties and agreed to further enhance cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture and defence, a DPM’s Office news release said. On the occasion, the DPM reiterated the invitation for FM Lavrov to visit Pakistan.

Dar also held a bilateral meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi.

The two leaders reviewed the state of bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Iran across various sectors and exchanged views on the evolving regional situation in the wake of recent Israeli aggression against Iran, a news release said.

The DPM, meanwhile, represented Pakistan at the joint call of SCO CFM Member States on Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Chinese president, welcoming the heads of delegations, underlined the salience of regional cooperation under the ambit of SCO, an organisation covering the Eurasian land mass and a large expanse of the world’s population.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Dar met Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan Kulubaev Zheenbek Moldokanovic at the Great Hall in Tianjin on the sidelines of the conference. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the longstanding bilateral relationship and to enhancing collaboration across all areas of mutual interest.

The deputy prime minister also met his Kazakh counterpart Murat Nurtleu, wherein both leaders reaffirmed their resolve to deepen Pak-Kazakh bilateral ties and to expand collaboration across regional and multilateral fora.

Meanwhile, in Tehran, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi separately met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Senior Advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader on International Affairs Dr Ali Akbar Velayati, and underscored the strong and enduring bond between Pakistan and Iran. The discussions focused on bolstering bilateral relations, regional stability and mutual cooperation.

During his meeting with President Pezeshkian, Minister Naqvi extended heartfelt congratulations on, what he described as, Iran’s “great victory in the war”. He commended the steadfastness of the entire Iranian nation, including the supreme leader, against aggression. “The wise leadership of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and your excellent strategy played a decisive role in the war, which is a matter of pride for the Muslim Ummah,” Naqvi stated.

The interior minister reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for Iran, highlighting that Pakistan “strongly condemned the attack on Iran at every forum.” He proudly noted that the Pakistani parliament was the first to pass a resolution condemning the imposed war and supporting Iran’s legitimate right to self-defence. He also conveyed a message of goodwill and respect to President Pezeshkian from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

President Pezeshkian, in turn, emphasised the profound importance Iran attaches to its relationship with Pakistan. “We will never forget how Pakistan stood with us during the war,” he affirmed. Expressing satisfaction over the current state of bilateral relations, President Pezeshkian highlighted the importance of diplomatic exchanges and constructive dialogue to expand comprehensive cooperation. He extended gratitude for Pakistan’s “sincere support during the Israeli-imposed war,” concluding that “there is vast potential for enhancing cooperation between our two countries.”

Present at this crucial meeting were Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, the Iranian President’s Special Assistant, Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran Mudassir Tipu.

Later, Minister Naqvi met Dr. Ali Akbar Velayati. Their discussion encompassed matters of mutual interest, Pakistan-Iran relations and the evolving regional situation, particularly following the Iran-Israel ceasefire.