Pakistan Ready for Meaningful Talks with India, Says Deputy PM Ishaq Dar

Washington:Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan is ready to engage in meaningful dialogue with India, emphasizing that the Kashmir issue remains unresolved under the UN Charter and needs to be addressed. He reiterated that Pakistan does not want to be part of any political bloc and seeks balanced relations with all global powers.

Speaking at the Atlantic Council, a prominent American think tank, Dar said that his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was productive. He stressed that Pakistan desires trade, not aid, from the United States, and emphasized the need for a strong, multifaceted partnership between the two countries.

Dar addressed a wide range of topics, including regional peace, economic stability, and Pakistan’s stance on terrorism. He asserted that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and continues to fight terrorism. “We are a peace-loving country that has achieved macroeconomic stability,” he said, adding that a trade agreement between Pakistan and the U.S. is expected soon.

On relations with India, the Deputy PM said that Pakistan is ready for talks at a neutral venue and is willing to cooperate with India to combat terrorism. He accused India of misleading the world by using terrorism as a pretext and stated that Pakistan had already taken action against banned groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba years ago.

Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for a two-state solution in Palestine, calling for Jerusalem to be the capital of an independent Palestinian state. He also said that Pakistan cannot ignore regional developments and is ready to act as a bridge between the U.S. and China.

He clarified that purchasing arms from China is not meant to damage relations with the U.S., adding, “We do not view our relationship with one country through the lens of another.”

Commenting on internal political matters, Dar said that the May 9 violence in Pakistan will be dealt with according to the law. He criticized PTI’s 126-day sit-in in 2014 for damaging the economy and stated that court cases against the party’s founder have no involvement from the current government.

On the issue of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, he mentioned that she has been imprisoned in the U.S. under American law for decades.

“We do not interfere in others’ affairs and do not allow others to interfere in ours,” Dar concluded, adding that Pakistan seeks peaceful relations with all its neighbors and respects Russia’s independent decision to recognize the Afghan government.

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