Highlighting it as one of his government's foreign policy priorities, Dar mentioned the continued stance to improve ties with its neighbors during a briefing before the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.
"Pakistan cannot change its neighbors. That is why it would be better to improve relations with those that already exist," the External Affairs Minister said.
Talking about relations with Afghanistan, Dar said that while Pakistan wants to have better bilateral relations, he cannot ignore the fact that the recent attack on Chinese nationals in Pakistan was planned from across the border.
"Pakistan seeks positive relations with Afghanistan. The attack on the Chinese was not just a terrorist attack. It was an attempt to damage relations between Pakistan and China. Two incidents damaged Pakistan and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was involved in both incidents. We demand that Afghanistan expel the TTP," he mentioned.
While Dar refrained from mentioning India, he has been calling for improved relations with the neighboring country. His indirect hint of willingness to reduce and normalize relations with India during the latest briefing is not the first time such an intention has been shared publicly.
After becoming Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Dar had asked India to reopen trade and business relations through confidence-building measures and table talks.
Dar's statements about improved relations with India were reiterated on several occasions, highlighting the ruling government's optimism in paving the way for restarting interaction channels with India.
He again highlighted the importance of improving relations with neighbors, including India and Afghanistan, during the briefing of the new committee, citing it as part of the priority aspects of Pakistan's foreign policy that will emphasize high-level engagements with strategic countries. and traditional. and regional partners and neighbors.
Experts say Dar's stance on relations with India and Afghanistan indicates a softer stance by Shehbaz Sharif's democratic coalition government towards neighboring countries. However, the government's foreign policy stance may not win approval from the powerful military establishment.
"Pakistan's relations with India are going nowhere for two reasons. Firstly, India has clearly refused to revoke and reverse the Article 370 decision on Kashmir. And secondly, Narendra Modi, during his recent election campaign, had made it clear that it had closed "In this scenario, I don't see much happening in the near future," said political analyst Javed Siddique.
He asserted that Pakistan's current political setup has a duty to trust the country's military establishment before taking any step forward. Siddique added that the army is on the offensive against the TTP and is threatening to eliminate even the terrorists in Afghanistan.
"On the other hand, (the army) has no intention of engaging with India if the Kashmir dispute is not resolved. Therefore, the current government's desire to engage with India and Afghanistan may not receive a positive signal from the establishment military," Siddique said.
"Pakistan cannot change its neighbors. That is why it would be better to improve relations with those that already exist," the External Affairs Minister said.
Talking about relations with Afghanistan, Dar said that while Pakistan wants to have better bilateral relations, he cannot ignore the fact that the recent attack on Chinese nationals in Pakistan was planned from across the border.
"Pakistan seeks positive relations with Afghanistan. The attack on the Chinese was not just a terrorist attack. It was an attempt to damage relations between Pakistan and China. Two incidents damaged Pakistan and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was involved in both incidents. We demand that Afghanistan expel the TTP," he mentioned.
While Dar refrained from mentioning India, he has been calling for improved relations with the neighboring country. His indirect hint of willingness to reduce and normalize relations with India during the latest briefing is not the first time such an intention has been shared publicly.
After becoming Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Dar had asked India to reopen trade and business relations through confidence-building measures and table talks.
Dar's statements about improved relations with India were reiterated on several occasions, highlighting the ruling government's optimism in paving the way for restarting interaction channels with India.
He again highlighted the importance of improving relations with neighbors, including India and Afghanistan, during the briefing of the new committee, citing it as part of the priority aspects of Pakistan's foreign policy that will emphasize high-level engagements with strategic countries. and traditional. and regional partners and neighbors.
Experts say Dar's stance on relations with India and Afghanistan indicates a softer stance by Shehbaz Sharif's democratic coalition government towards neighboring countries. However, the government's foreign policy stance may not win approval from the powerful military establishment.
"Pakistan's relations with India are going nowhere for two reasons. Firstly, India has clearly refused to revoke and reverse the Article 370 decision on Kashmir. And secondly, Narendra Modi, during his recent election campaign, had made it clear that it had closed "In this scenario, I don't see much happening in the near future," said political analyst Javed Siddique.
He asserted that Pakistan's current political setup has a duty to trust the country's military establishment before taking any step forward. Siddique added that the army is on the offensive against the TTP and is threatening to eliminate even the terrorists in Afghanistan.
"On the other hand, (the army) has no intention of engaging with India if the Kashmir dispute is not resolved. Therefore, the current government's desire to engage with India and Afghanistan may not receive a positive signal from the establishment military," Siddique said.