Pakistan Won’t Fire First, But Will Hit Back Hard if Needed: Ishaq Dar

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday accused India of escalating regional tensions and warned that any hostile action would be met with a resolute response from Pakistan, though the country would not be the first to initiate conflict.

Speaking at an event in Islamabad, Mr. Dar said New Delhi appeared intent on dragging the region into conflict. “Pakistan will not be the initiator of war in any scenario,” he stated. “However, if forced into a confrontation, we will respond with unwavering national resolve.”

The foreign minister sharply criticized a recent incident in Pahalgam, describing it as a staged operation designed to divert attention from domestic instability in India. He dismissed the allegations against Pakistan as baseless and accused India of fabricating the incident for political purposes.

“The police filed a case just ten minutes after the Pahalgam incident, despite the nearest station being 45 minutes away. This raises serious doubts,” Dar remarked. “This is not a coincidence—it’s a calculated narrative. The world must not be misled by this manufactured drama.”

He further highlighted what he described as growing human rights abuses across several Indian states, arguing that the recent escalation was an attempt to shift the spotlight away from internal dissent and unrest within the country.

On the issue of water security, Mr. Dar warned against any Indian attempts to suspend or interfere with the Indus Waters Treaty. He emphasized that such actions would violate international agreements and could be interpreted as a hostile move. “Tampering with Pakistan’s water rights would constitute an act of aggression under international law,” he said.

Mr. Dar noted that Pakistan’s National Security Committee had swiftly responded to the situation with key strategic decisions, all of which were immediately put into effect.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, the foreign minister said that Islamabad strongly opposes terrorism in all forms and remains focused on stability. “We have demonstrated our ability to counter aggression swiftly in the past, including in the airspace,” he added. “Pakistan’s soil will never be used to harm any other nation.”

He urged global powers to take serious notice of the developing situation and reaffirmed that Pakistan’s position on Kashmir remains firm. “Kashmir cannot and will not be sidelined,” Dar concluded.

Source: Web Desk