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July 24, 2026
Kashmir, IWT among Key Global Challenges ThreateningPeaceful Coexistence and StabilityManila: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday drew attention to key challenges threatening peaceful coexistence and stability across the world, listing the Kashmir dispute and India’s threats to Pakistan’s water share among them.
He made the remarks at the 33rd ministerial meeting of the Asean Regional Forum ( ARF ) held in Manila, the Philippines.
Foreign ministers and delegates from 27 member states of ARF gathered for the summit, which comes amid a flare-up in the war between the United States and Iran. The conflict is a key concern for the 11-nation Asean, which has a combined gross domestic product of about $3.8 trillion heavily reliant on Middle East oil.
Addressing the meeting, DPM Dar highlighted eight key challenges that he said “continue to threaten peaceful coexistence, stability and our livelihoods across the region and the world”.
“Any delay in addressing these challenges will only undermine our collective efforts to achieve peace, stability and prosperity across our regions and beyond,” he said.
Noting the “continued failure” to resolve longstanding disputes in South Asia, he called attention to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as “the heart of regional instability”.
He said that Pakistan continued to advocate for a “just and peaceful” settlement, in line with the United Nations Charter and resolutions as well as the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
The deputy premier also expressed concern once again over India’s decision to unilaterally place the Indus Water Treaty ( IWT ) in abeyance after hostilities flared up between the two nations last year.
“We simply cannot afford to let this serious provocative development remain unaddressed,” Dar said, urging the entire international community to support a peaceful resolution to the issue.
The issue of water has remained a bitter point of contention between the two nuclear-armed nations since May 2025. Earlier this month, the top brass of Pakistan’s army vowed to undertake “ all measures necessary ” to ensure the availability of Pakistan’s rightful share of water.
US-Iran war and Gaza
Dar also highlighted Pakistan’s role in facilitating a ceasefire between the US and Iran and convening talks at the leadership level between the two arch-enemies after 47 years.
Appreciating the confidence placed in the country by the US, Iran, Gulf countries and others, he said, “These hard-earned achievements through dialogue and diplomacy have created a valuable opportunity to advance lasting peace. We must not let this opportunity slip through our hands.”
‘Common threat’ of terrorism
DPM Dar also highlighted the issue of terrorism, terming it “a common threat and challenge for all of us in varying degrees”.
“Pakistan has been at the forefront of the global fight against terrorism. No country outside active conflict zones has been sacrificing as [much as] Pakistan,” he said, highlighting that over 90,000 lives had been lost as well as close to $150 billion in economic damages. – Dawn
Courtesy Dawn
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