Key points
- Pakistan downed six Indian jets, one UAV during conflict
- India blamed Pakistan for Pahalgam; no evidence provided
- Dar warns against Indian violations of Indus Waters Treaty
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that India’s claims of regional hegemony have been dismantled in the wake of the recent conflict with Pakistan.
“There is mourning in India over its failure to undermine Pakistan’s diplomatic standing.”
Briefing journalists in Islamabad, Dar outlined Pakistan’s comprehensive diplomatic and military response before and after the hostilities, which he said had earned international recognition. “Pakistan downed six Indian fighter jets and one UAV,” he stated, calling it a demonstration of the country’s defensive capability and strategic restraint.
The escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours began on April 22 with the Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), where 26 people were killed. India swiftly blamed Pakistan without presenting any evidence, while Islamabad categorically rejected the accusation and called for an impartial international investigation.
In the aftermath, the Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated a series of aggressive actions, including suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), revoking visas for Pakistani citizens, shutting the Wagah-Attari border, ordering Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi to close, and significantly reducing diplomatic staff on both sides.
Pakistan responded with firm countermeasures: suspending bilateral trade, closing its airspace to Indian flights, and launching coordinated military responses. “On May 7, Indian missile strikes caused civilian casualties in Pakistani cities, prompting Pakistan’s kinetic response, including the downing of Indian warplanes and the neutralisation of drones.”
A ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump on May 10, but tensions and diplomatic narratives continued to unfold.
Dar said Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach, particularly spearheaded by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, had received global praise for its clarity, coherence, and emphasis on peaceful resolution. “India lied to harm Pakistan, and today its claims of regional superiority have been reduced to dust,” he said, underscoring the effectiveness of Pakistan’s twin approach of military resolve and international diplomacy.
Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach, particularly spearheaded by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, had received global praise for its clarity, coherence, and emphasis on peaceful resolution.” – Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
He noted that even within India, there was an outcry over Pakistan’s successful diplomatic positioning. “The world has seen India’s new normal blown into the air,” Dar remarked, referencing the breakdown of New Delhi’s regional doctrine in the face of Pakistan’s response.
India lied to harm Pakistan, and today its claims of regional superiority have been reduced to dust.” – Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Dar stressed that while a ceasefire is currently holding, India’s continued political rhetoric is a concern and appears aimed at domestic electoral gains. He reiterated that Pakistan is a peace-loving nation focused on economic development and remains open to dialogue—but not desperate for it.
He clarified that Pakistan is willing to engage in a composite dialogue with India, covering all bilateral issues, including terrorism and the Indus Waters Treaty. However, he warned that any Indian attempt to divert or stop water under the Indus Water Treaty would be treated as an act of war. He asserted that, under international law, the treaty cannot be suspended or amended unilaterally.
Dar also recounted the Prime Minister’s recent diplomatic outreach to Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan, undertaken to thank those nations for their solidarity during the conflict. He noted his own diplomatic engagements in China, including meetings with his Chinese counterpart and a trilateral session with Afghan officials, further reinforcing international support for Pakistan’s position.
He confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to express gratitude for Riyadh’s backing during the crisis.
Dar also announced that Pakistan will assume the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council next month. He said discussions at the UN will focus on the theme: “Promoting International Peace and Security through Multilateralism and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes.” He urged the international community to recognise the grave implications of any further escalation between two nuclear states and called for sustained diplomacy to preserve regional and global stability.
