New York (TDI): In a fresh call for regional stability, Pakistan on Tuesday extended an offer to India to resume comprehensive dialogue, aiming to resolve longstanding disputes between the two neighbours, particularly the conflict over Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking at a press briefing in New York, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan was ready to restart broad-based talks with India. However, he stressed that any such engagement must address the full spectrum of bilateral issues and not be limited to counterterrorism.
“Pakistan itself has suffered immensely from terrorism,” Dar said. “We are making this offer sincerely, with the hope that lasting peace in South Asia can be achieved.”
He noted that peace in the region was impossible without addressing the Kashmir dispute. “Even US President Donald Trump, on several occasions, acknowledged the gravity of the Kashmir issue,” Dar remarked.
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His comments followed a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which the two sides discussed regional security, the situation in Afghanistan, and Pakistan’s role in global counterterrorism efforts. “Secretary Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terror,” Dar told reporters.
Touching on the Indus Waters Treaty, Dar reaffirmed Islamabad’s stance that the decades-old agreement is binding and cannot be altered unilaterally. He warned that any Indian attempts to obstruct Pakistan’s rightful water share would be unacceptable.
When asked about Pakistan’s position on Israel, Dar reaffirmed that Islamabad has no intention of recognizing Tel Aviv. He called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for a sovereign Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Earlier, Dar addressed the High-Level Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine, where he delivered a powerful speech condemning Israeli actions in Gaza and calling for urgent international action.
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“For over 75 years, Palestinians have endured forced occupation, displacement, and denial of basic human rights,” he said. “Gaza has become a graveyard for international law.”
Citing the deaths of over 58,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children, Dar termed the situation a clear violation of international humanitarian law. He demanded accountability for what he described as war crimes and collective punishment.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
