On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar emphasized with conviction that war is far from child’s play, asserting that Pakistan’s nuclear and missile programs serve the sole purpose of self-defense.
In a stirring address at the Senate, Dar confronted the surge of misinformation, shedding light on Pakistan’s formal position amidst ongoing regional tensions. He cautioned against the dissemination of false narratives, highlighting the appearance of several misleading clips since June 13.
He critiqued one particular video featuring former U.S. President Donald Trump, which was subsequently exposed as AI-generated. Dar also clarified that a circulating interview of Israeli PM Netanyahu, believed to be current, actually dated back to 2011.
In response to a prevalent fake news story, Dar vehemently refuted allegations that a Pakistani official threatened a nuclear strike on Israel should Iran be attacked. He stressed that Pakistan made no such declaration, reinforcing, ‘This is more than child’s play—significant war activity is involved.’ He reiterated that Pakistan’s defensive measures are strictly for safeguarding the nation.
In the case of provocation by India, Pakistan would retaliate with greater force than before. Dar affirmed, ‘Our nuclear and missile capabilities are not meant for aggression; they are vital for safeguarding our safety and sovereignty.’
Dar also revealed that he stayed in constant contact with the foreign ministers of Iran and Oman during recent escalations. He added that Pakistan played an active diplomatic role as a UN Security Council member and facilitated communication between nations. According to Dar, Iran has shown willingness to negotiate if Israel halts further strikes, and Pakistan is ready to support peace efforts through dialogue.