Islamabad, September 16, 2025: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has said that mere condemnation of Israeli attacks is no longer sufficient, urging the international community to adopt a clear plan of action to halt what he called Israel’s “unchecked aggression” in the Middle East.
In an interview with Arab media, Dar said the world must “stop Israel in its tracks,” warning that strikes on Lebanon, Syria, and most recently Qatar, were flagrant violations of international law. “Pakistan strongly condemns the strike on Qatar… it is an attack on the sovereignty of a brotherly country,” he said.
Last week, Israel carried out an airstrike in Doha targeting Hamas leaders, sparking widespread outrage across the Middle East and beyond. Dar said Pakistan had actively backed Qatar in the aftermath, joining Somalia in calling for an emergency session of the UN Security Council. He welcomed Qatar’s decision to host an Arab-Islamic emergency summit, describing it as both “timely and significant.”
The deputy prime minister stressed that Gaza’s humanitarian crisis required an unconditional ceasefire and greater Muslim unity. He also called for overdue reforms in the UN Security Council so it could “fulfil its responsibility” in disputes like Palestine and Kashmir. “The Security Council must take meaningful action and not remain a silent spectator,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier termed Israel’s strike on Doha a reckless attempt to derail peace, calling for the creation of an Arab-Islamic task force to counter Israeli expansionism. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s “complete solidarity” with Qatar.
Dar, who attended the Doha summit alongside the prime minister, reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to resolving conflicts through dialogue while warning that sovereignty would never be compromised. He said Pakistan had paid the highest price in its fight against terrorism yet continued to be unfairly blamed by India.
On regional tensions, Dar cautioned that water disputes could spark future wars, reminding that any attempt by India to halt water flows under the Indus Waters Treaty would be considered “a declaration of war.” He reaffirmed that Pakistan, as a responsible nuclear power with a strong military, would stand firmly with the Muslim Ummah against any threat.
The remarks come months after Pakistan and India engaged in a four-day conflict, triggered by an attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. India’s “Operation Sindoor” was met with what Pakistan described as a “befitting response,” including the downing of Indian drones and fighter jets. The hostilities ended only after U.S. President Donald Trump mediated a ceasefire.
