ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday said Pakistan’s armed forces and people demonstrated resilience during last year’s military confrontation with India, while reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to regional stability, diplomacy and international peace efforts, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
The remarks came during an Eid al-Adha dinner hosted for Pakistani-American community leaders in New York City, where Dar highlighted Pakistan’s response during the May 2025 conflict between Pakistan and India. One of the most serious military escalations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in recent decades.
According to the Foreign Office, Dar said Pakistan’s armed forces, under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu and Admiral Naveed Ashraf, stood firm “in the face of Indian aggression” alongside the people of Pakistan.
The conflict erupted in May 2025 after Indian strikes inside Pakistan triggered a sharp military escalation between the two countries.
Pakistan responded with Operation Bunyan Um Marsoos, which Pakistani officials said resulted in the downing of multiple Indian fighter aircraft, including Rafale jets, as well as retaliatory strikes on Indian military installations.
Dar said Pakistan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was now playing “an active and constructive role” in regional and global peace efforts, reflecting the country’s “maturity, credibility, and steadfast commitment to international peace and stability.”
Pakistan has remained diplomatically engaged in recent months with Iran, the United States, Gulf states and other international partners amid continuing discussions on regional stability and maritime security, including efforts linked to trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
“He underscored that a nation capable of defending itself with confidence is equally well-positioned to pursue sincere peacemaking efforts with credibility,” the Foreign Office statement said.
Dar also told members of the Pakistani-American community that Pakistan was entering a new phase focused on economic growth and international integration.
“He conveyed that Pakistan is a country of immense potential, and that its best days lie ahead,” the statement said.
According to the Foreign Office, the deputy prime minister said the government was pursuing a sustainable, export-led growth strategy aimed at increasing foreign exchange earnings, generating employment opportunities and integrating Pakistan more deeply into global supply chains.
“The Deputy Prime Minister invited the Pakistani-American community to honour their roots by investing in Pakistan and becoming partners in the country’s journey forward,” the statement added.
Dar also praised the Pakistani-American diaspora, describing it as one of Pakistan’s strongest assets in promoting investment, advocacy and people-to-people ties with the United States.
