Ishaq Dar: Pakistan Open to Dialogue with India, But Only on Equal Terms

Pakistan Ready for Dialogue with India, But Only on Equal Terms: Ishaq Dar

July 29, 2025

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, has reiterated that Pakistan is willing to engage in dialogue with India, but only if the process is based on equality, mutual respect, and genuine intent. Speaking at a high-level policy forum in Islamabad, Dar emphasized that Pakistan has always supported regional peace and diplomacy but will not participate in talks under unilateral conditions or external pressure. “We are always open to meaningful dialogue,” he said. “But our desire for peace should never be mistaken for weakness.”

His remarks come at a time of heightened tensions between Pakistan and India, particularly following the April Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists. In response to the tragedy, India suspended parts of the Indus Waters Treaty, imposed visa bans on Pakistani citizens, shut down cross-border movement, and restricted bilateral trade. Pakistan reacted by expelling Indian military advisers and accusing New Delhi of using the incident to distract from its internal political unrest.

Dar suggested that the Pahalgam attack might have been politically manipulated or even staged as a false flag operation, designed to escalate regional tensions. Despite these concerns, he confirmed that the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement, signed in May, remains in effect. Pakistan has already withdrawn its military forces to peacetime positions and continues to support diplomatic engagement—provided that India responds with sincerity.

According to Dar, meaningful peace can only be achieved through discussions that include all core issues, such as the Kashmir dispute, the equitable sharing of water resources under the Indus Waters Treaty, trade imbalances, and regional security cooperation. He made it clear that Pakistan seeks dialogue, not domination, and that peace cannot be reached through coercion or propaganda.

Analysts believe that Dar’s statement is a carefully calibrated diplomatic move intended to portray Pakistan as peaceful yet principled. The remarks also serve to place pressure on India to come to the table without preconditions. As global powers like the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE continue to push for regional stability, Islamabad’s message is clear: Pakistan is ready for peace—but only through fairness, dignity, and mutual respect.