Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan is in no hurry to hold talks with India, but ready for dialogue if New Delhi shows seriousness.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday, Dar asserted that Pakistan’s narrative on the Kashmir dispute has been based on truth and that Pakistan has successfully countered India’s position. “We are not cowardly like India; Pakistan’s responses were fully transparent,” he said.
“We never pleaded with the world or any other country for the ceasefire; they were doing on their own. There should be dialogue, but it must be between the two countries. When India is ready, we will also be ready. We don’t need to plead to anyone, just as we didn’t do so for the ceasefire,” he added.
Deputy PM explained that the recent ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) was secured after a call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with India agreeing first, followed by Pakistan.
“The ceasefire is progressing successfully in phases, though it is regrettable that a neighbouring country’s defence minister dismissed it as a mere trailer, saying the real story is yet to come. True honour lies in making peace,” he added.
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Responding to India’s allegations about banned organisations operating in Muridke and Bahawalpur, Dar said Pakistan exposed the facts by allowing journalists to visit these sites. “If we had anything to hide, we would not have taken this step,” he stated.
Highlighting China’s support for Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir, the DPM said the Chinese leadership agrees the unresolved Kashmir dispute is the core cause of regional tension. “We have exposed India’s falsehoods on global platforms, and the world no longer blindly believes their claims,” he added.
Dar described his recent visit to China as an extraordinary trip featuring bilateral meetings and a trilateral consultative session with China and Afghanistan, confirming full implementation of decisions made at the April 19 Kabul meeting.
He said he held key meetings with Chinese delegations on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he participated in a trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan, focusing on Afghan refugees, regional security, and trade. The three countries agreed to prevent their territories from being used for terrorism.
The DPM noted China’s readiness to launch CPEC-II in partnership with the current government and thanked Beijing for its support on the IMF bailout package.
Recalling progress on the Pakistan-Afghanistan rail transit project initiated under the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, Dar said Uzbekistan was also brought into the plan. “Discussions with China indicate they are willing to invest in this rail transit initiative,” he added.
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He said the railway project involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan is nearing finalisation. The countries also discussed extending the Belt and Road Initiative through Afghanistan and the Peshawar-Kabul highway project.
“If China builds the Peshawar-Kabul highway, access to Central Asia will become easier, and Gwadar Port will become fully operational,” the DPM said.
Addressing regional security, Dar condemned the recent deadly attack on a school bus in Khuzdar, Balochistan, calling the incident heartbreaking. He vowed that terrorists’ days in the region are numbered and pledged to eliminate them soon.
“We cannot change our neighbours,” he said, adding that diplomatic, trade, and other issues were discussed in China. He stressed that Afghanistan’s territory must not be used against Pakistan for terrorism.
Regarding Afghan refugees, Dar announced a new policy offering a one-year multiple-entry visa with a $100 processing fee. Pakistan is moving toward a single-document system to streamline refugee registration.
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He further underscored China’s deep interests in Pakistan’s stability and the shared goal of eradicating terrorism. Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan agreed to prevent the growth of terrorist groups and intensify counter-terrorism efforts.
On multilateral cooperation, Dar revealed China is establishing a major international mediation organisation, modelled after the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), to be headquartered in Hong Kong.
He confirmed plans to extend CPEC-II through Afghanistan, including motorway construction from Karachi to Hyderabad and Sukkur, and a highway from Peshawar to Kabul. This infrastructure will open trade corridors through Uzbekistan to Central Asia, activating Gwadar Port as a regional hub.
Dar criticised the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), saying it has failed due to one country’s “stubbornness and monopolistic attitude,” referring to India. He suggested integrating SAARC countries into the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to form a stronger regional bloc.
“Upgrading railway lines from Karachi to Peshawar and linking Central Asia via Gwadar could usher in new economic growth for Pakistan and the wider region,” he said.
