Editorial
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar recently emphasized that the country is “ready but not desperate” for dialogue with India, reflecting the persistent tensions between the two nations following recent military conflicts. The two countries engaged in intense clashes last month, utilizing fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery over four days—marking their most significant fighting in decades—before agreeing to a US-mediated ceasefire on May 10.
The recent escalation was triggered by an attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, predominantly tourists. India attributed the attack to “terrorists” allegedly supported by Pakistan, an accusation that Islamabad has firmly denied. In this context, Dar reiterated Pakistan’s intent to engage in a comprehensive dialogue encompassing multiple issues—most notably water rights—while asserting that India appears focused solely on terrorism.
Dar’s remarks are particularly telling as they highlight the contrasting priorities of the two countries. He stated, “That’s not on. Nobody else is more serious than us. It takes two to tango,” referring to Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s insistence that discussions should be limited to terrorism. This divergence in approach may hinder meaningful progress in resolving underlying disputes, notably the critical issue of water rights, especially following India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty in the wake of the April attack.
India has maintained a tough stance, asserting that terrorism and dialogue cannot coexist. As Pakistan attempts to steer the conversation toward broader issues, it remains to be seen whether India will reciprocate, or if the longstanding tensions will persist, jeopardizing regional stability and cooperation.
