Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday said that India’s political leadership is struggling to come to terms with its defeat during the recent military escalation with Pakistan.
Addressing the Pakistani community in Kuala Lumpur, Dar said that Pakistan responded firmly to India’s actions following the Pahalgam incident, including the closure of its airspace after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty.
He claimed India’s narrative has failed to gain traction internationally, while Pakistan has focused on economic diplomacy over conventional rhetoric. “We are not diplomatically isolated — we are one of the biggest victims of terrorism and have consistently countered Indian misinformation, just as we did after the Pulwama incident,” he said.
Recalling events of May 6, 2025, Dar said Indian fighter jets attempted to enter Pakistani airspace but were met with a measured and restrained response. Pakistani pilots, he added, were instructed not to engage unless national boundaries were breached and to avoid civilian areas.
“The world saw how Pakistan shot down six Indian aircraft that night,” Dar stated, underscoring Pakistan’s readiness to defend its sovereignty. “India may say what it wants, but Pakistan is fully prepared.”
He also disclosed Pakistan’s quiet diplomatic engagement during the Iran-Israel conflict earlier this year, revealing that he remained in direct contact with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. “We fulfilled our duty behind the scenes,” he said, referring to Islamabad’s behind-the-scenes efforts to ease tensions.
Dar’s remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and continued friction between Islamabad and New Delhi.