KEY POINTS
- Pakistan rejects India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
- Ishaq Dar warns any attempt to block water flow will be considered an act of war.
- Dar says Pakistan has no plans to recognise Israel.
- Deputy PM demands Gaza ceasefire and full UN membership for Palestine.
- Dar says Pakistan seeks stronger ties with Afghanistan and Iran.
NEW YORK: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar has reiterated Islamabad’s willingness to engage in a “composite dialogue” with India to discuss all outstanding issues between the two South Asian countries.
Speaking at a press conference in New York, Dar maintained that a political dialogue will ultimately have to take place to resolve the problems between the two countries.
The Deputy PM reiterated Pakistan’s stance that the dialogue will not be limited to the issue of terrorism alone.
Pakistan, Dar said, made absolutely clear that without a resolution of the Kashmir dispute, in accordance with United Nations resolutions, there will be no durable peace in the region.
Dar said Pakistan was ready for dialogue with India, adding that Pakistan seeks a composite dialogue that includes Kashmir as well as other issues, including the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). He also emphasised that the IWT cannot be suspended.
Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan’s stance is very clear on the Indus Waters Treaty. He said the Indus Waters Treaty is binding and no single party can terminate or amend it. He firmly stated that any attempt to divert or block Pakistan’s share of water would be unacceptable.
He said that any attempt by India to block water flow into Pakistan or its course is diverted, it will be considered a declaration of war.
The Deputy PM said that Pakistan remains alert and is keeping a close watch on the situation. In this regard, Dar praised the leader of the Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asif Munir during the standoff with India
India suspended the treaty on April 23, 2025, one day after the Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, blaming Pakistan for the attack without any evidence. Pakistan condemned the attack and firmly denied any involvement.
Pakistan has repeatedly shared its stance that if India blocks Pakistan’s strategic waters, it will be considered an act of war, since millions depend on these waters for agriculture, and hence food security is directly linked with uninterrupted water flow.
In a move that directly clashes with international norms and IWT’s own clauses, India pulled out of the treaty unilaterally, a move that is being acknowledged worldwide as politically motivated.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, addressed a press briefing with the US-based Pakistani journalists at the end of his visit to the United States.
In his remarks, he gave an overview of his engagements at the United Nations. He informed the… pic.twitter.com/POXlCSLvWG
— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) July 29, 2025
The treaty was signed in 1960, and the World Bank is a facilitator, often dubbed a protector, whenever any disagreement occurs on this water-sharing deal.
No plan to recognise Israel
Responding to a question, the Deputy Prime Minister made it clear that Pakistan has no plan to recognise Israel.
He demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.
Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al Sharif as its capital.
Describing his US visit as successful, the Deputy Prime Minister said Pakistan has also raised its voice for reforms in the UN Security Council, emphasising that the OIC should be given due representation in the world body.
It is noteworthy that Ishaq Dar also addressed a United Nations conference on the two-state solution for Palestine, where he demanded a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the provision of food supplies.
Dar said that today’s Gaza has become a graveyard for human rights laws.
“Accountability must be ensured for war crimes in Gaza. Crimes against humanity must stop. The time has come for Palestine to be granted full membership of the United Nations,” he added.
Pakistan, US ties
Dar reiterated that Pakistan had been the biggest victim of terrorism and noted that the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a meeting with him, acknowledged Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.
Responding to a question about his meeting with Rubio in Washington last week, the Deputy PM said that while military-to-military communications were taking place, there was no contact on the political side.
The Deputy PM said that the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere in which they discussed a wide range of issues.
Replying to another question, the Deputy PM said he had invited Secretary Rubio to visit Pakistan.
Ties with Afghanistan
On relations with Afghanistan, Dar highlighted Pakistan’s outreach to Afghanistan, a neighbouring Muslim country, with a view to enhancing regional connectivity through rail and trade corridors to Central Asia.
Pakistan’s relations with Iran have also greatly improved, the Deputy PM said.
Ishaq Dar held the press conference at the end of his week-long visit to the US, during which he presided over Pakistan’s signature events at the UN Security Council.
Pakistan initiated a debate on the “Peaceful Settlement of Disputes” led to the unanimous adoption of a resolution. Pakistan also organised a debate aimed at promoting cooperation between the UN and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
In addition, Dar presided over a debate on Palestine in which the enormous suffering of the Palestinian people, especially their starvation, under the deadly Israeli bombardments, was highlighted.
A day after his arrival in New York, the Deputy PM addressed the High-Level Political Forum, which examined the progress in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“I am fully satisfied with the role Pakistan played in enhancing its relations with Iran,” the Deputy PM added.
