Islamabad, August 22, 2025: Pakistan has once again extended an offer to India for comprehensive talks, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stressing that any dialogue must cover all contentious issues, including the Kashmir dispute.
In an informal discussion with senior journalists on Friday, Dar said Pakistan’s pursuit of peace remained steadfast despite prevailing tensions. “Desire for peace, even after winning the war, is a characteristic of Pakistan,” he remarked.
He confirmed that the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) was holding and revealed that India had sought U.S. mediation. “We received a call from the U.S., and I made it clear that Pakistan does not want war at all,” Dar said, while criticizing India for what he termed “unnecessary war rhetoric.”
Clarifying Islamabad’s stance, Dar said Pakistan had not asked any third party to arrange talks. “We were asked to sit at a neutral location, and I said if the meeting is at a neutral venue, then we will do it,” he stated, reiterating that any dialogue must be comprehensive and inclusive of all disputes, particularly Jammu and Kashmir.
Outlining his diplomatic engagements, Dar said he would undertake A two-day visit to Bangladesh starting August 23 to bolster bilateral ties, will participate in an emergency meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah on August 25 and will visit China on August 30 with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
He further clarified that the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Pakistan has not yet been finalized.
