Indian actions fuel regional instability & terrorism narrative: Ishaq Dar

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday warned India against any provocation, saying that Pakistan will not launch any provocation and will give a decisive response to any provocation.

The minister’s remarks came amid heightened tensions following the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which Dar termed as part of India’s politically motivated and provocative actions that threaten regional peace and stability.

Addressing a press briefing with Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Dar expressed Pakistan’s deep concern over India’s destabilizing actions and provocative statements following the April 22 attack.

He said that while Pakistan strongly condemns the targeting of innocent civilians, it is crucial to acknowledge that a country that has suffered immense losses from terrorism understands the pain of the victims.

“As a victim of terrorism, no one can feel the pain of those affected better than Pakistan,” Dar said, adding that Pakistan expressed its condolences and reached out to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to ensure the strongest condemnation of the Pahalgam incident.

Dar further criticized India for trying to link Pakistan to the attack without evidence, calling it a “deliberate and baseless” attempt to divert the attention of the international community from India’s own security failures in IIOJK and the ongoing atrocities against Kashmiris.

“India continues to fuel its murderous campaigns and state-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan and beyond,” Dar said, highlighting Pakistan’s significant sacrifices in the war on terror, which has claimed over 80,000 lives and caused economic losses of over $150 billion.

Reiterating Pakistan’s position, Dar made it clear that while Pakistan would not escalate the situation further, any aggressive move by India would be met with a “befitting and decisive response” from Pakistan. He added that the international community should consider the broader implications of India’s actions on regional stability.

The foreign minister also questioned India’s timing, suggesting that the country was deliberately escalating tensions to divert attention from its internal issues, particularly the unresolved Kashmir dispute, which is a root cause of instability in South Asia.

Dar asserted that India’s allegations against Pakistan regarding the Pahalgam attack were part of a long-standing pattern of fabricating terrorism charges for political gain, aimed at suppressing the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and justifying draconian laws.

He called for a transparent investigation into the incident by independent international observers, as suggested by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The Foreign Minister also expressed concern over the Islamophobic rhetoric being propagated by India against Kashmiris and Indian Muslims, warning that such divisive narratives would further destabilize the region.

On India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), Dar condemned the move as illegal, pointing out that the treaty cannot be amended or terminated without mutual consent, as clearly stated in its dispute resolution framework.

‘Important questions’

Dar raised several important questions for the international community to ponder in light of recent developments, including India’s provocative rhetoric and attempts to blame Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack without evidence.

“Isn’t it time for the world to hold India accountable for its international carnage, including in Pakistan?” Dar asked. “And isn’t it important to distinguish between legitimate sympathy for the victims and unwitting endorsement of India’s belligerent behavior?”

“Third, isn’t it the case that Indian propaganda is intended to fabricate a case for military adventurism?”

“Fourth, don’t you think that India’s blatant disregard for international law and sensationalist approach to its responsibilities will lead to a highly unstable and unpredictable system?”