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 24NewsHD TV channel.
Addressing Regional Dialogue organized by Institute of Regional Studies in Islamabad, Ishaq Dar, who is also the country’s foreign minister (FM), however, 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.”
Ishaq Dar says Pakistan has exposed India's mala fide intentions behind the Pahalgam attack. He said he has also directed Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN to request for a meeting of the UN Security Council on the recent tensions between the two countries. He said Pakistan will share facts with the Security Council members.
Ishaq Dar said baseless allegations as well as unilateral, politically motivated and highly provocative actions taken by India over the last couple of weeks pose a grave threat to regional and international peace and security.
He said they believed that what happened in Pahalgam was an attempt to divert attention from India's internal challenges, state sponsored terrorism, the ongoing human rights violations in IIOJK and to gain narrow domestic political objectives.
He however emphatically stated that Pakistan will resolutely defend its sovereignty and territory integrity. He said Pakistan is absolutely alert and its armed forces are ready. He mentioned that there has been attempt on the night between April 29 and 30 by the Indian air force. He said our air force moved swiftly, timely and made them to run back. He said according to our information, the Indian fighter jets landed in hurry in Srinagar.
Ishaq Dar said Pakistan will not give up its share of water under Indus Water Treaty. He said Pakistan is honouring the treaty in letter and spirit. He said we will not allow to divert or stop 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 unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the primary source of volatility in South Asia. He said there is an urgent need for a 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.