Pakistan Calls on India to Renounce "Misguided Policies"

(MENAFN) Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called on India to abandon its "misguided policies" and shift toward fostering greater regional collaboration in South Asia. Speaking at the Institute for Strategic Studies Islamabad conference on Monday, Dar emphasized that India's "impulsive actions" have obstructed regional unity and made the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), an eight-nation intergovernmental organization, ineffective.

The two nuclear-armed neighbors have been embroiled in significant tensions recently. The conflict escalated after a deadly assault on April 22 at the Pahalgam tourist site in Indian-administered Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people. In retaliation, Islamabad adopted a "quid pro quo plus" approach, a new standard Pakistan will follow if India continues pursuing its risky concept of "limited war under the nuclear threshold," Dar said.

Pakistan's foreign policy, Dar stressed, is now focused on geo-economics. He urged India to "rethink its present hubris and misguided policies that threaten peace and undermine security in South Asia."

India has yet to issue a formal response to Dar’s comments.

Indus Waters Treaty Crisis
Dar also addressed India's decision to put the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, asserting that Pakistan "will continue to mobilize all international and legal forums to highlight India’s violation of international law." India suspended the treaty following the Pahalgam attack, a move that has raised serious concerns about water access for millions.

In a landmark statement, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (CoA) recently noted that the decades-old water-sharing agreement does not allow for unilateral suspension.
According to the CoA, the treaty remains valid "until terminated with the mutual consent of India and Pakistan."

Dar reiterated Pakistan's unwavering position on Kashmir, asserting that “Sustainable peace in South Asia remains contingent on a just and lasting solution to the lingering Kashmir dispute.”

On the issue of the Indus Waters Treaty, Islamabad formally called on New Delhi to "immediately resume the normal functioning of the Indus Waters Treaty and fulfill its treaty obligations, wholly and faithfully." India has rejected the CoA’s findings.

A Call for Regional Cooperation
Dar stressed that the South Asian region must focus on positive solidarity, cooperation, and mutual prosperity instead of ongoing conflict. He advocated for a "reimagination of regional cooperation," adding that Pakistan is strengthening ties with countries like Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

He also highlighted a recent trilateral cooperation initiative between Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh, and mentioned efforts to restore relations between Islamabad and Kabul, which have seen progress in recent months.

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