China-bound Ishaq Dar to lay focus on in-depth discussions on India conflict

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar departed for Beijing on Monday for a three-day official visit to China, amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and India following the Pahalgam incident in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

Speaking to the media at the airport before departure, Ishaq Dar firmly stated that India’s baseless allegations regarding Pakistan’s involvement in the attack have been exposed.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, Ishaq DAr emphasised that the global community is no longer buying into New Delhi’s blame game, and Pakistan has presented clear evidence to refute the claims.

Dar said Pakistan has proven to the world that India's allegations of Pakistan's involvement in the Pahalgam incident were wrong.

Dar’s visit, extended on the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, is aimed at holding in-depth discussions on the evolving regional dynamics in South Asia, particularly in light of the recent military escalation between India and Pakistan.

The two sides will also review Pakistan-China bilateral relations and exchange views on broader regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Diplomatic sources highlighted that China has vocally supported Pakistan during its recent standoff with India, reinforcing the strategic trust between the two nations.

Dar’s agenda will include regional security, strategic cooperation, and development partnerships, particularly in the context of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Former diplomats Khalid Masood, Naghmana Hashmi, and Maria Sultan commented that Pakistan’s cordial ties with China, Bangladesh, Turkiye, and Azerbaijan contrast sharply with India’s increasing diplomatic isolation.

They noted that Pakistan's foreign policy stance has gained credibility, especially with recent international calls for restraint and peace.

China openly supported Pakistan in the recent Pakistan-India tensions, diplomatic sources said.

AFP reported yesterday that Pakistan's foreign minister will make a three-day official visit to China, a little over a week after Islamabad reached a ceasefire with India to end their most serious conflict in decades.

Ishaq Dar, who also holds the portfolio of deputy prime minister, will start his visit on Monday in Beijing, where he will hold "in-depth discussions" with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi "on the evolving regional situation in South Asia and its implications for peace and stability," his office said in a statement.

"The two sides will also review the entire spectrum of Pakistan-China bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest," it said.

Dar's visit to Beijing comes on the heels of a tumultuous couple of weeks, following an April attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in which 26 people were killed.

New Delhi blamed Islamabad for backing the militants it claimed were behind the attack–the deadliest on civilians in Muslim-majority Kashmir in decades. Pakistan denies the charge.

The territory is claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, which have fought several wars over Kashmir since their 1947 independence from British rule.

On May 7, India launched strikes against what it said were "terrorist camps" in Pakistan, kicking off four days of intense tit-for-tat drone, missile, and artillery exchanges with Islamabad.

The conflict left more than 70 people, including dozens of civilians, dead. It is also noteworthy that Pakistani forces only targeted the military places in India.

China has been one of Pakistan's most reliable foreign partners, readily providing financial assistance to bail out its often struggling neighbour.

US President Donald Trump announced a surprise truce on May 10, which appears to be holding over a week later.