Deputy PM touts country\u2019s economic progress, says Pakistan aiming for G20 membership
\n DUBAI
\nDeputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has said that the military-to-military ceasefire between Pakistan and India is holding steady, however, it appears that the latter\u2019s political leader is not coming to the terms with the recent defeat. \u201cPakistan-India military-to-military ceasefire is working fine, but India\u2019s political leadership is unable to digest it,\u201d said DPM Dar, who also holds the portfolio of foreign minister, while speaking during an event hosted by the Pakistan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
\nPakistan and India engaged in military conflict in May this year, wherein the nuclear-armed rivals used missiles, drones, and artillery fire during the four-day fighting \u2014 their worst in decades \u2014 before agreeing to a ceasefire. In response to the Indian aggression, Pakistan\u2019s armed forces launched a large-scale retaliatory military action, named \u201cOperation Bunyan-um-Marsoos\u201d, and targeted several Indian military targets across multiple regions.
\nThe ceasefire was first announced by US President Donald Trump on social media after Washington held talks with both sides, but India has differed with Trump\u2019s claims that it resulted from his intervention and threats to sever trade talks. FM Dar, who is in Kuala Lumpur for the 32nd Ministerial Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), has slammed India for suspending the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and called the step as strange move.
\n\u201cIndia cannot stop or divert Pakistan\u2019s water\u2026 New Delhi is facing growing isolation globally,\u201d he said.India is becoming isolated on the international stage due to its aggressive policies, he added.
\nRecalling Pakistan\u2019s swift response to Indian action during the conflict, DPM Dar said PAF shot down six Indian pilots including four Rafales. He said that during the recent tensions, India had intentionally targeted Sikh-populated areas with missile strikes.
\nThe deputy prime went on to say that India started the war and ended it by asking for a ceasefire. \u201cAt 8:15 in the morning, [the] US secretary of state called and said India wants a ceasefire,\u201d he recalled. On Pakistan\u2019s economic outlook, Dar said the country has taken off despite tough conditions.
\nPakistan has made an economic take-off and now our goal is to get the country included in the G20, he added.Earlier in the day, DPM Ishaq Dar called on Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting. During the meeting, he conveyed warm wishes from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s commitment to deepening bilateral ties with Malaysia.
\nFM Dar also appreciated Malaysia\u2019s leadership as ASEAN Chair for the year 2025.Malaysian prime minister reciprocated the warm sentiments and said he looked forward to the visit of PM Shehbaz Sharif this year in October. nDeputy Prime Minister Dar thanked Prime Minister Ibrahim for the warm hospitality and impressive arrangements at the ASEAN meeting.
\nHe also appreciated the practical steps taken by the Malaysian side for promotion of trade and investment between the two countries following the visit of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to Pakistan in October last year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Deputy PM touts country\u2019s economic progress, says Pakistan aiming for G20 membership DUBAI Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has said that the military-to-military ceasefire between Pakistan and India is holding steady, however, it appears that the latter\u2019s political leader is not coming to the terms with the recent defeat. \u201cPakistan-India military-to-military ceasefire is working fine, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-489654","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n