Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, has said that India must review its policies and cannot impose its will on Pakistan.
Speaking at the Foundation Day ceremony of the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, Dar warned New Delhi against unilateral actions and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and sovereignty.
He strongly criticised India’s use of “false flag operations” to justify aggression against Pakistan, particularly citing the Pulwama incident, which he said was used by India to stage a fabricated narrative. “India must revisit its strategic choices and end its policy of coercion,” Dar stated.
Tensions between Pakistan and India escalated on April 22, when an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan for the incident. Pakistan has categorically rejected Indian accusations.
India then undertook a series of hostile actions the next day on April 23, suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), cancelling visas for Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing and ordering the shutdown of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, among others.
Read: Pak IWT stance vindicated by arbitration court
Both the countries subsequently reduced diplomatic staff at their respective embassies in the other’s territory.
Referring to water disputes, Dar asserted that India cannot unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, accusing it of attempting to weaponise water against Pakistan.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to safeguard its territorial integrity and uphold its sovereign rights.
On the Kashmir issue, the DPM said the dispute is internationally recognised and its peaceful resolution is essential for regional stability.
He accused India of openly violating international laws, while reiterating Pakistan’s adherence to the principle of peaceful coexistence.
Commenting on global affairs, Dar welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and Israel and reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding support for Iran’s legitimate stance.
He called for dialogue-based resolution of Iran’s nuclear issue and expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, condemning ongoing atrocities in the region.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s Supplemental Award on the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a major vindication of Pakistan’s stance.
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The ruling confirmed that India cannot unilaterally suspend the treaty or its dispute resolution mechanisms.
In a statement on Sunday, the PM said water is vital for Pakistan and praised Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Attorney General Mansoor Awan for their legal efforts.
The court stated that the Treaty remains binding unless terminated by mutual consent and does not allow one-sided suspension by either party.
Earlier, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had said that Pakistan would consider war if India refused to honour the Indus Waters Treaty.
“India must choose between honouring the treaty or losing control of all six rivers,” Bilawal said, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to protecting its share of water under the 1960 World Bank-brokered agreement.
The comments followed an earlier statement made during a political rally in Sukkur, where Bilawal declared, “Either the river will flow or their blood will.”
