Moon Desk: Pakistan has reiterated its commitment to maintaining the ceasefire with India but cautioned against the arbitrary use of force, weeks after the two neighbours saw their worst conflict in decades. Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tianjin, China, Dar said Pakistan remained fully committed to the regional ceasefire and a balanced security environment.
However, he cautioned that peace could not be achieved if coercion and aggression were allowed to become standard tools of statecraft. “Today, Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to the ceasefire and the cultivation of a stable regional equilibrium,” Dar said. “But we cannot accept that the arbitrary use of force is normalised.”
The foreign minister stressed that all disputes and differences must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, rather than conflict and confrontation. “Initiation of a comprehensive and structured dialogue can meaningfully address the full spectrum of issues that have long bedeviled peace and security in South Asia,” he added.
Dar also emphasised the importance of strictly adhering to bilateral agreements as a prerequisite for restoring regional confidence and preventing future escalations. Referring to recent tensions in South Asia, Dar said Pakistan had adopted a restrained and responsible approach despite provocative rhetoric and “strategic recklessness” from its neighbor. “The events unfolding since 22 April 2025 also reaffirms a central truth of South Asian geopolitics… the peaceful settlement of the longstanding unresolved disputes is imperative for an enduring peace in the region,” he added.
He urged the SCO to remain a platform for regional stability based on mutual respect and the sovereign equality of states, stating that durable peace requires resolving unresolved disputes through fair and lawful means. Pakistan, he noted, was ready to work with all regional partners under the SCO framework to advance peace, development, and connectivity through collective cooperation rather than confrontation.Meanwhile, the foreign minister reiterated that Pakistan values the SCO as a platform of immense political, strategic and economic importance.
“At a time when the global order is experiencing profound challenges, SCO has emerged as a stabilising force,” he said, noting that its inclusive approach underscoring the sovereign equality of states and seeking peaceful resolutions to disputes, offers a compelling alternative to aggression, confrontation and zero-sum rivalries.
“The SCO’s commitment to consensus, development, and mutual respect is a beacon of hope for building a better and equitable world.” He reaffirmed Pakistan’s adherence to the goals and principles of Charters of the UN, the SCO and other universally recognised principles and norms of international law.
