KUALA LUMPUR – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar strongly criticized India’s political leadership on Friday, claiming it is struggling to accept military and diplomatic setbacks. He asserted that India cannot divert Pakistan’s water or violate the Indus Waters Treaty without facing consequences.
Speaking to the Pakistani community in Kuala Lumpur, Dar praised overseas Pakistanis as ambassadors of the country and highlighted strong bilateral ties between Pakistan and Malaysia. He stressed the importance of Pakistan’s global standing and reiterated the government’s aim to rejoin the world’s top 20 economies.
Dar recalled that by 2018, Pakistan had emerged as the 24th largest economy in the world and was on track to join the G20. However, due to political disruptions, the country fell to the 47th position. He credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership for stabilizing the economy, reducing inflation, and cutting the policy rate from 22% to 11%.
On regional tensions, Dar accused India of making baseless allegations against Pakistan following the Pahalgam incident and criticized New Delhi for suspending the Indus Waters Treaty. He emphasized that Pakistan responded firmly by closing the Wagah border and restricting Indian air access, preventing India’s narrative from gaining global support.
Dar also addressed diplomatic concerns, stating that Pakistan is not isolated on the international stage. He pointed to Pakistan’s recent election to the UN Security Council with 177 votes and referenced Nawaz Sharif’s 1998 nuclear tests as a reminder of Pakistan’s strength and sovereignty.
Concluding his speech, Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace and regional stability while warning that any attempt by India to alter water flows or provoke conflict would be met with a strong response. He stressed that the military ceasefire remains intact and that Pakistan remains united in eliminating terrorism and protecting national interests.