In an address at the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Kuala Lumpur, Dar strongly criticised India for creating regional tensions, particularly the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
His speech highlighted unresolved disputes, cross-border hostilities, and India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, warning that regional peace remains in jeopardy without international attention and mediation.
Dar described South Asia as a region plagued by enduring security challenges, noting that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute lies “at the heart of regional instability”.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s call for a peaceful resolution in line with the United Nations Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Referring to an attack in Pahalgam on April 22, he said India had blamed Pakistan without any shred of evidence. He said Pakistan had proposed an impartial inquiry on April 26, but India “opted for aggression” instead, launching an unprovoked strike on May 7, resulting in civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
The deputy prime minister defended Pakistan’s military response on May 7 and 10 as a calibrated and restrained exercise of its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter, targeting only military assets.
He said Pakistan’s response aimed to uphold sovereignty and deter further aggression, rejecting what he called India’s “so-called new normal” rooted in unilateralism and impunity.
He further criticized India’s unilateral move to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, calling it a violation of international law and a threat to millions dependent on the Indus River system. “The treaty contains no provision for unilateral action,” he stressed, urging the international community to take notice of what he termed a dangerous precedent.
Reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to the ceasefire with India, he expressed appreciation for international partners who facilitated it and welcomed their offer to help resolve the Kashmir dispute.
“Over one-fifth of humanity resides in South Asia. Another cycle of conflict would be catastrophic for the region,” he warned.
Beyond regional tensions, the deputy prime minister also addressed global concerns, including terrorism, rising Islamophobia, the Israel-Palestine crisis, Afghanistan, climate change, and maritime security.
He said Pakistan had lost over 80,000 lives and suffered economic losses of over $150 billion in the fight against terrorism, adopting a comprehensive approach that includes counter-radicalization, education reforms, and intelligence coordination. However, he warned that terrorism’s root causes such as poverty, injustice, occupation, and the denial of self-determination must also be addressed.
Dar expressed concern over the instrumentalisation of counterterrorism rhetoric to stigmatise Muslim communities and denounced rising Islamophobic policies. “Such narratives erode fundamental rights and exacerbate radicalization.”
Turning to Afghanistan, he highlighted Pakistan’s recent efforts to strengthen dialogue, including his April visit to Kabul and a trilateral meeting with China and Afghanistan in May. He urged the Afghan interim government to prevent the use of its territory for terrorism against Pakistan.
On the Middle East, the minister welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and Israel and reiterated Pakistan’s support for Iran’s sovereignty and right to self-defence. He strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing aggression in Palestinian territories, calling for immediate international action to end the occupation and establish a sovereign Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s diplomatic stance on broader Asia-Pacific matters, the foreign minister voiced strong support for peace in the South China Sea and emphasized the importance of resolving disputes through diplomacy. He reiterated Pakistan’s backing of the One China Policy and recognized the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate authority over Taiwan.
Calling climate change an existential threat, the minister noted Pakistan’s vulnerability to disasters like floods and droughts. He urged developed nations to fulfill their commitments on climate finance and technology sharing, stating that “climate justice demands global solidarity.
Meanwhile, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan at a weekly briefing reacted sharply to remarks by Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who claimed India had targeted 13 military bases of Pakistan and nine targets set out were successful.
“The remarks of the Indian NSA are replete with distortions and misrepresentations. They not only reflect a deliberate attempt to mislead public, but also violate the norms of responsible statecraft. Boasting of military aggression against a sovereign nation is a grave breach of the United Nations Charter and established principles of international law,” the spokesperson said.
“Rather than resorting to fictitious narratives, India should accept the downing of six fighter jets and severe damages to other military targets,” he added.
“Besides, it is a matter of public knowledge that the so-called terrorist targets attacked by India resulted actually in the death of civilians, including women and children. Glorification of conflict benefits no one. The path of a lasting peace lies in dialogue, mutual respect and adherence to international law,” according to the spokesperson.