ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday called for greater international support to resolve conflicts in South Asia and the Middle East, telling a regional security forum that disputes ranging from Kashmir and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty to the war in Gaza and tensions involving Iran require dialogue and adherence to international law.
Speaking at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) ministerial meeting in Manila, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar outlined Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities, urging multilateral cooperation on regional security, counterterrorism, climate change and emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity while reiterating Islamabad’s positions on India, Afghanistan, Gaza, Ukraine and the South China Sea.
“We meet at a time when geopolitical uncertainties are placing increasing pressure on multilateral institutions and undermining the rules-based international order,” Dar said in a statement released by Pakistan’s foreign ministry. “Pakistan deeply values ASEAN’s consensus-based approach and supports stronger cooperation to address both traditional and emerging challenges.”
Dar said the unresolved Kashmir dispute remained “at the heart of regional instability” in South Asia and called for a peaceful settlement in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
He also criticized India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, a World Bank-brokered agreement that has governed water sharing between the two nuclear-armed neighbors since 1960. India announced it was placing the treaty in abeyance following the April 2025 militant attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad denied involvement, and the crisis escalated into the most serious military confrontation between the two countries in decades before a ceasefire was reached.
“We also remain deeply concerned by India’s illegal unilateral decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, seeking to weaponize water resources in violation of its international obligations,” Dar said.
Turning to the Middle East, Dar said Pakistan remained committed to supporting diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions following the recent conflict between the United States and Iran.
He said Pakistan had helped facilitate efforts to restore dialogue between the two countries and urged all sides to uphold their commitments to prevent further escalation and help restore stability in the Gulf, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route.
On Gaza, Dar described the humanitarian situation as “deeply alarming” and reiterated Pakistan’s support for an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The latest war began after Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, displaced most of the enclave’s population and triggered a humanitarian crisis.
Dar also urged neighboring Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities not to allow militant groups to use Afghan territory to launch attacks against Pakistan.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban administration of failing to prevent groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) from operating from Afghan soil, allegations the Taliban deny.
“Pakistan has only one expectation from the Afghan Taliban regime: Do not allow Afghan territory to be used for terrorism against Pakistan,” Dar said.
Dar also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine, called for the peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea in accordance with the UN Charter, reiterated Islamabad’s support for the One-China policy and urged stronger international cooperation to address climate change, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
