By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday delivered a wide-ranging press conference addressing Pakistan’s recent confrontation with India, regional diplomacy involving Afghanistan and Bangladesh, and Islamabad’s position on Gaza, stressing that Pakistan would only participate in international missions under a peacekeeping and humanitarian mandate.

Referring to this year’s brief but intense conflict with India, Dar said Pakistan did not seek war but responded decisively to Indian aggression, achieving what he described as a “great victory” within four days.

He said Pakistan’s military response demonstrated advanced technological capabilities, adding that the country’s nuclear and missile programmes had made its defence “impregnable” and earned international recognition.

Dar said Pakistan would now focus on transforming itself into an economic power, citing the launch of onshore and offshore exploration projects that have attracted interest from multiple countries.

On Kashmir, the foreign minister reiterated that durable peace in South Asia is impossible without resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with UN Security Council resolutions.

He criticized India’s constitutional changes in the region and said human rights violations there had again drawn global attention after the May incident.

Dar also accused India of initiating that escalation, saying Pakistan responded proportionately, closed its airspace, while New Delhi unilaterally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty.

Turning to regional diplomacy, Dar said Pakistan had broken years of stagnation in ties with Bangladesh, calling the recent high-level engagement successful after more than a decade of minimal contact.

He also said relations with the United States had improved significantly this year, noting that President Donald Trump publicly praised Pakistan’s actions.

On Afghanistan, Dar said Islamabad had made sustained efforts to build goodwill and improve ties at all levels, with the sole request that Afghan soil not be used against Pakistan.

He welcomed a recent religious decree issued by Afghan scholars, calling it a positive step if implemented. He added that Pakistan had allowed UN humanitarian convoys to pass and was also considering requests from friendly countries, while urging the Taliban to control militant groups, warning that the TTP could become a long-term problem for Afghanistan as well.

Addressing broader regional cooperation, Dar said he did not propose replacing SAARC but suggested trilateral cooperation among Pakistan, China and Bangladesh, noting that SAARC remained inactive largely due to India.

On Gaza, the foreign minister rejected reports claiming Pakistan was sending 3,500 troops to the territory, saying no such deployment had been confirmed.

He stressed that Pakistan would be willing to join only a peacekeeping or humanitarian mission and would not accept any mandate to disarm Hamas. “It is not our job to make one Muslim fight another Muslim,” he said, calling such reports false.

Dar emphasized that Pakistan’s approach across all fronts remains anchored in peace, sovereignty, and humanitarian responsibility.