Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that terrorism in Pakistan is backed by external forces, accusing India of promoting terrorism in the region.
Speaking at a seminar on South Asian peace organised by the IRS in Islamabad, Tarar stated that Pakistan is playing an active role for peace in South Asia, while India’s Hindutva ideology poses a grave threat to regional stability.
He noted that India has made every effort to undermine peace and that the balance of power in South Asia must be viewed differently.
He emphasised that Pakistan is fully capable of responding to any aggression, adding that baseless accusations were leveled against Pakistan over the Pahalgam incident. “We have demanded an impartial investigation and presented our stance globally,” he said.
Tarar highlighted that Pakistan has been the biggest victim of terrorism, sacrificing 90,000 lives in the fight against it.
The minister also accused India of weaponising water, stressing that Indus Waters Treaty’s unilateral suspension was unacceptable. He further emphasized that water was a matter of survival for Pakistan. He warned that Pakistan’s desire for peace should not be mistaken for weakness.
He concluded that lasting regional peace was impossible without resolving the Kashmir issue. “After Maraka-e-Haq, the Kashmir dispute has re-emerged internationally, and it must be resolved in line with UN Security Council resolutions,” he added.
