ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday said the long-standing Kashmir dispute remains a critical obstacle to lasting peace and stability in South Asia.
Addressing a seminar in Islamabad, he stated that escalating conflicts across the world are increasingly jeopardizing global security, and reiterated Pakistan’s firm belief in resolving disputes through sustained dialogue and effective diplomacy.
Dar emphasized that South Asia continues to grapple with a wide range of pressing challenges, including climate change, rising poverty levels, illiteracy, and recurring natural disasters, all of which are placing severe stress on the region’s social and economic structures.
He noted that the growing impact of climate-related crises such as extreme temperatures and recurring floods has inflicted “profound and destructive” damage on national economies across the region.
He was of the view that tensions between Pakistan and India earlier in May had the potential to escalate into a highly dangerous situation. He criticized India’s unilateral announcement to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, describing it as a reckless and destabilizing decision.
Dar also condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, calling them a grave assault on humanity and a blatant disregard for international humanitarian standards.
He reiterated that the unresolved Kashmir conflict continues to be one of the most significant contributors to instability in South Asia. “Genuine and sustainable peace in this region will remain out of reach until the Kashmir issue is addressed in accordance with international law,” he asserted.
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