ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the country’s “very large” and “effective” armed forces had repeatedly proven their capabilities in conventional warfare, as he backed calls for an Arab-Islamic security force to counter Israeli aggression.
In an interview with Al Jazeera aired late Monday, Dar said Arab states had discussed creating a “combined security force.” He said such a mechanism would not be for aggression, but to “stop the aggressor, stop the occupier, stop someone who just doesn’t listen.”
Asked if Pakistan would join such a body, Dar said: “Nuclear-powered Pakistan, obviously, as a member of the Ummah, would discharge its duty.” He stressed Pakistan viewed its nuclear weapons only as a deterrent.
“Pakistan has a very large, very effective army, air force, and navy. We have proved we can beat our opponent even conventionally, if challenged,” Dar said.
He condemned Israel’s Sept. 9 strikes in Doha that targeted Hamas leaders, calling the attack on Qatar “totally baseless” and “rogue.” He said Qatar was mediating peace talks for Gaza when Israel launched the strike.
Dar accused Israel of repeatedly violating international law, saying UN resolutions and humanitarian rules had “no effect on one country, which is doing what it feels like.” He urged urgent reforms to the UN Security Council, noting both Israel and India ignored its resolutions on Gaza and Kashmir.
“The multilateral system needs very serious reforms right now,” he said. “If resolutions are just put in the bin, what do we expect from the system?”
Dar said Pakistan wanted peace and preferred diplomacy on Gaza, but warned that dialogue required sincerity. He accused Israel of expansionist designs and of backing India in past military confrontations with Pakistan.
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“We are ready. We want peace. But a nuclear-armed state does not want destabilisation in the region,” he said, warning of wider consequences if aggression continued.
