Pakistan Ready for Comprehensive Dialogue with India, Says Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has expressed readiness for a comprehensive dialogue with India, addressing Kashmir as well as all other pending issues between the two nations. Speaking to journalists outside the parliament in Islamabad, Dar highlighted that Pakistan does not support talks limited to a single issue and insists that discussions must cover the full range of bilateral concerns. This stance contrasts with India’s position, which restricts dialogue to the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and counterterrorism efforts.

Dar clarified that Pakistan has not formally requested third-party mediation but was open to meeting at a neutral venue when such an offer was made. He explained, “We were told to sit down at a neutral location, and I said if that is the case, we are willing to meet.” This indicates Pakistan’s willingness to engage in dialogue under mutually agreeable conditions without involving external mediators.

On the security front, Dar revealed that he received a call from the United States urging Pakistan to agree to a ceasefire with India. He stressed that Pakistan has no desire for war and reaffirmed that the ceasefire agreement reached in May remains intact. This agreement followed a brief but intense conflict marked by Indian precision strikes and Pakistani counter-attacks, which ended after four days of cross-border drone and missile exchanges.

The May conflict began with India’s “Operation Sindoor,” which targeted terror infrastructure in response to an earlier attack in Kashmir that claimed 26 lives. Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes on Indian military bases, and subsequent fierce counter-attacks by India, escalated tensions. The swift agreement to cease hostilities was a crucial step in preventing further escalation and maintaining fragile peace along the border.

Dar also addressed diplomatic developments, noting that the visit of the US Secretary of State to Pakistan has not been scheduled yet. His comments reflect ongoing diplomatic sensitivity and the delicate balance in South Asia, where dialogue and conflict remain intertwined. Pakistan’s openness to dialogue on multiple issues signals a potential shift towards broader engagement with India, even as differences over core issues persist.