News Desk
- Dar rules out first use of nuclear weapons, stresses deterrence role
- Pakistan has “very effective” armed forces, proven in conventional war
- Warns response to any violation, “smallest or largest country”
- Calls Israel and India violators of UNSC resolutions, urges reforms
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said Pakistan would not allow any breach of its territorial integrity “no matter by whom, be it the smallest or the largest country,” in a wide-ranging interview with Al Jazeera English.
He asserted that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons were only for deterrence, but emphasised that the country had “very effective” armed forces that had proven their capabilities in conventional warfare.
Speaking to Al Jazeera’s Osama bin Javed in Doha, Dar was asked directly about the prospect of re-escalation with India following the four-day armed flare-up in May. He replied: “India did it. You saw what happened to them. We have proved that we can beat [our opponent] even conventionally, if challenged.”
On the question of nuclear posture, he clarified: “We have no intention of using it; it is only a deterrence. But Pakistan has a smart, known, very effective army, very effective air force, very effective navy.”
Dar further highlighted that Pakistan’s military action earlier this year was undertaken strictly in self-defence. “Some country had claimed to have hegemony, to be the net security provider, to be the captain of the entire region. But you saw what happened between May 7 and 10. It’s all settled. The hegemony is buried,” he told the Middle Eastern news channel.
Turning to regional issues, Dar condemned Israel’s recent airstrikes in Doha as “totally baseless” and described Israel’s conduct as “rogue.” He said: “International laws, international humanitarian rules and United Nations Security Council resolutions seem not to affect one country, which is repeatedly doing what it feels like.”
When asked whether Pakistan could join a combined Middle Eastern force to resist Israeli aggression, Dar responded: “Why not? What’s wrong with that? They should [have a combined force] … not for aggression purposes, but for stopping the aggressor, for stopping the occupier.”
Pressed on whether Pakistan would join such a coalition, he said: “Nuclear-powered Pakistan, obviously, as a member of the ummah, would discharge its duty.”
Dar also touched upon the United States, acknowledging Washington’s role in brokering the May ceasefire with India while questioning its failure to restrain Israel. “We would not allow the breach of our territorial integrity, no matter by whom … But I don’t see any reason why the US or any other country would do it,” he said.
Calling for sweeping reforms to the UN system, he noted: “The UN Security Council is meant to maintain peace in the world. And if its resolutions are just put in the bin, as it is happening for so many years — by Israel in Gaza and Palestine and by India in Kashmir — what do we expect from the multilateral system?”
Dar concluded by stressing that while Pakistan desired peace and favoured dialogue in Gaza and the wider region, insincerity in negotiations or “negative and evil designs of expansionism” would render talks meaningless. “Again, I repeat, we want peace. The nuclear-armed state does not want any destabilisation in the region because that will have consequences beyond [the region],” he told Al Jazeera.
