ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation on Monday with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani as tensions continued to rise between Pakistan and India following the Pahalgam attack.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister apprised the Qatari Prime Minister of the recent deliberations and decisions taken by Pakistan’s National Security Committee in response to India’s unsubstantiated allegations, inflammatory rhetoric, and unilateral measures, Radio Pakistan reported.
During, the conversation, the Qatari Prime Minister underscored the imperative of maintaining regional peace and stability, and emphasized the value of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving disputes between states.
The two sides reaffirmed the enduring fraternal bond between Pakistan and Qatar, agreeing to maintain close coordination and consultations on the evolving regional situation, Radio Pakistan reported.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, held a telephone conversation today with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani @MBA_AlThani_.
During… pic.twitter.com/QuAl61Of6U
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 28, 2025
The conversation came against the backdrop of heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours after gunmen attacked tourists in the Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on 22 April, killing 26 people and injuring 17.
India swiftly blamed Pakistan for the attack without presenting any credible evidence. Pakistan condemned the attack and strongly rejected the Indian government’s baseless accusations.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said Islamabad was open to any “neutral and transparent” investigation into the Pahalgam attack.
Pakistan warns of befitting response to Indian aggression
Earlier on Monday, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that the country was fully prepared to respond with “full force” if India initiated any military action.
Speaking to a private television channel, Asif said the situation remained highly volatile following the Pahalgam incident.
“Three to four days are crucial. We are 100 percent ready for war,” Asif said, adding, “If India imposes a war on us, we will respond with full force.”
Tensions have escalated since the Pahalgam attack, with Islamabad offering a joint, neutral, and transparent investigation into the incident — a proposal to which New Delhi has yet to respond.
Pakistan has consistently maintained that it has no interest in escalating conflict but would defend itself if attacked.
“We want India’s lies on this issue to be exposed,” Asif said, adding that Pakistan had no desire for confrontation but would not hesitate to protect its sovereignty.
