Dar cites May hostilities with India, stresses need to build economic strength

ISLAMABAD ( Web Desk) — Recalling Pakistan’s military response during the May hostilities with India, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday said the country must now focus on transforming itself into an economic power, stressing that the government is pursuing a coordinated strategy for stability and sustainable growth.

Addressing an annual news conference in Islamabad, Dar said Pakistan’s global standing had improved and its voice was increasingly being heard at international forums. “We now have to make Pakistan an economic power,” he said.

He credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with leading efforts to stabilise the economy, noting that the government was working towards long-term financial sustainability. “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is making continuous efforts to stabilise the country economically,” Dar said.

Welcoming the recent visit of the United Arab Emirates president, Dar described it as a positive development, adding that discussions focused on bilateral trade, investment and the energy sector. He said Saudi Arabia had supported Pakistan in securing an International Monetary Fund programme, while China had deposited $4 billion and the UAE $3bn to support the country’s economy.

Referring to tensions with India, Dar claimed that Pakistan had shot down seven Indian aircraft during recent hostilities and said Islamabad did not seek a ceasefire. He alleged that India had sent 80 drones over a 36-hour period during the four-day conflict, of which Pakistan shot down 79, while one drone struck a military installation, injuring one person.

Dar added that the US secretary of state contacted him following Pakistan’s response, and said bilateral trade with the United States had reached $13.28bn and was currently in Pakistan’s favour. He also noted that Washington had designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Majid Brigade as global terrorist organisations this year, with counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries increasing.

Widening diplomatic engagement

On regional issues, Dar reiterated that durable peace in South Asia was not possible without resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and criticised India’s demographic changes in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

He said Pakistan would engage Bangladesh following its general elections scheduled for February next year, and highlighted renewed engagement with the European Union through a strategic dialogue in Brussels after a four-year gap.

Describing ties with China as “ideal”, Dar called Beijing a highly reliable partner, recalling Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Pakistan in August and the first-ever trilateral meeting held in Kabul. He added that President Asif Ali Zardari remained keen on further engagement with China.

In the Middle East, Dar highlighted a strategic mutual defence agreement signed with Saudi Arabia on September 17, covering cooperation in defence, energy, technology and mining. He said relations with Turkiye, Iran, Gulf states and Central Asian countries remained strong, adding that contacts with Iran had increased and Pakistan had condemned the June 13 attack on Iran.

No role in disarming Hamas

Responding to questions on Palestine, Dar said Pakistan had no plan to send troops to Gaza for the purpose of disarming Hamas, stressing that both civil and military leadership were aligned on the issue.

His remarks followed comments by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had welcomed Pakistan’s openness to considering a role in a proposed international stabilisation force for Gaza.

Dar condemned Israel’s continued violations of the peace agreement, which he said had resulted in the killing of hundreds of Palestinians, including women and children. He added that eight Muslim countries, including five Arab states, had agreed to work with the United States for peace in Palestine, noting that all eight foreign ministers had issued a joint statement reflecting a unified stance.