ISLAMABAD – Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar made it clear on Friday that Pakistan’s foreign policy is guided by its own national interests and not dictated by any other country — including the United States. Speaking at a press conference, Dar responded to speculation that Pakistan might avoid openly criticizing Washington over its recent military strikes on Iran.
“Having good ties with the United States does not mean endorsing everything it does,” Dar emphasized, adding that Pakistan took a firm and principled stance following the U.S. bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites. He noted that Islamabad publicly condemned the strikes and affirmed Iran’s right to respond.
He criticized the shift in U.S. policy under the Trump administration, which broke a 45-year precedent by carrying out a direct attack on Iranian territory using B-2 bombers and bunker-buster munitions. “We knew Iran would not remain silent,” Dar stated, noting that Tehran’s retaliatory strike on a U.S. base in Qatar was a measured act of self-defense.
Dar revealed that Iran had expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s diplomatic support during the crisis. The Iranian Parliament even echoed with chants of “Thanks to Pakistan” after Islamabad backed Iran at the United Nations Security Council.
He also disclosed that a high-level meeting had taken place in Istanbul during this period, where Pakistan’s top military and diplomatic leadership held discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his senior team. The Iran situation dominated the agenda, with both sides exploring ways to prevent regional escalation.
Dar stressed that Iran reaffirmed it does not seek nuclear weapons but reserved the right to respond to aggression. He further mentioned that Iran coordinated its actions with Qatar before targeting the U.S. base.
Separately, Dar shared that Pakistan had successfully facilitated a meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir and reiterated the country’s commitment to regional diplomacy. When asked about India, he responded unequivocally: “We are not begging for talks.” He added that while Pakistan is open to dialogue, any engagement must also address Kashmir and water issues, not just terrorism.
