Pakistan will never strike India first, says Ishaq Dar.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday said that at a time when both Pakistan and India had reached the brink of war, the former would never strike the latter, reported The Asian Mirror.
Addressing Regional Dialogue organized by the Institute of Regional Studies in Islamabad, Ishaq Dar, who is also the country’s foreign minister (FM), said that the country’s armed forces were fully alert and would give a befitting reply to India in the event of aggression by the latter.
“Already, the Indian jets have tried to enter Pakistan’s airspace, but we forced them to retreat within minutes.”
He further said that for Pakistan, the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by India amounted to a declaration of war.
He said categorically that Pakistan would not allow India to deprive it of a single drop of water.
Dar requested the international community to take immediate notice of the situation in the region.
Asserting that Pakistan was against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the deputy PM said that the country could not even think of allowing militants to use its soil to carry out attacks in another country.
“We have always talked about peace in the world,” he added.
He stressed the need for resolving the issues of Kashmir and Palestine, saying they could not be put in cold storage.
Dar accused India of carrying out a false flag operation in Pahalgam to divert the world’s attention from the separatist movements presently brewing in its several states.
“An FIR was registered within 10 minutes of the incident and Pakistan was blamed for it without any investigation,” he said, adding, “By doing this, India has put the lives of billions of people in the region in jeopardy.”
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar asserts that Pakistan has revealed India’s true intentions behind the Pahalgam attack.
He has instructed Pakistan’s UN Ambassador to request a UN Security Council meeting to discuss rising tensions between the two nations.
Pakistan aims to present its perspective to the Security Council members.
Dar criticises India’s recent actions, describing them as baseless allegations and provocative measures that threaten regional and global peace.
According to him, the Pahalgam incident was likely an attempt by India to shift focus from its internal issues, alleged state-sponsored terrorism, and human rights abuses in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, as well as to achieve domestic political gains.
He, however, emphatically stated that Pakistan will resolutely defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said Pakistan is absolutely alert and its armed forces are ready.
He mentioned that there had been an attempt on the night between April 29 and 30 by the Indian air force. He said our air force moved swiftly and timely and made them run back.
He said, according to our information, the Indian fighter jets landed in a hurry in Srinagar.
Ishaq Dar said Pakistan will not give up its share of water under the Indus Water Treaty. He said Pakistan is honouring the treaty in letter and spirit.
He said we will not allow diverting or stopping the flow of water, which is Pakistan’s due share under the treaty.
Dar said Pakistan, being a responsible member of the international community, remains committed to regional peace and security. He said we will support all efforts towards de-escalation.
Dar said the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the primary source of volatility in South Asia.
He said there is an urgent need for renewed and concerted efforts under the UN auspices to secure a just, lasting and peaceful resolution of this dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of Kashmiri people.
