Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday said that acts of terrorism in Pakistan are being backed by foreign elements, with India actively promoting instability in the region. Speaking at an event on “Peace in South Asia” organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) in Islamabad, Tarar stated that Pakistan continues to play a proactive role in fostering peace across South Asia. He warned, however, that the Hindutva ideology propagated by India poses a grave threat to regional stability, adding that New Delhi has consistently attempted to sabotage peace efforts in the region. “The regional balance of power must be viewed through a different lens,” he asserted.
The minister emphasized that Pakistan is fully capable of responding to any form of aggression, pointing to the baseless allegations leveled against Pakistan following the recent Pahalgam incident. “We called for an impartial international investigation into the Pahalgam incident and presented our narrative on diplomatic forums,” he said.
Highlighting Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, Tarar said no other country has suffered as much as Pakistan, which has lost over 90,000 lives in its decades-long struggle against militancy.
He further criticized India for weaponizing water, stating, “Water is a matter of our survival, and we will not compromise on it.” Tarar condemned India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it unacceptable and a violation of international agreements. “Pakistan’s desire for peace must not be mistaken for weakness,” he stressed.
Addressing the issue of Kashmir, the federal minister said lasting peace in the region is impossible without a resolution of the Kashmir dispute. “Post-Balakot, the Kashmir issue has once again gained international attention. The conflict must be resolved in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions,” he said.
