Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday strongly condemned last month’s attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran, labeling them “unacceptable” during his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting held in Tianjin, China.
The SCO, a 10-member Eurasian political and security alliance including Pakistan, China, Russia, India, and Iran, convened its foreign ministers ahead of the annual leaders’ summit, scheduled for this autumn in Tianjin.
Referring to events in June, Dar highlighted Israel’s “unprecedented” airstrikes on Iran, targeting military and nuclear facilities as well as civilian areas, resulting in the deaths of senior military officials, nuclear scientists, and over 1,000 civilians, according to Iranian authorities. These strikes, he noted, occurred days before a planned meeting between Tehran and Washington to revive nuclear negotiations. The US also joined Israel with its own attacks on June 22, striking key Iranian nuclear sites.
“We strongly condemn the unjustified and illegitimate aggression by Israel and the US against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Dar said. “Such illegal actions against fellow SCO member states are unacceptable.”
Criticism of Israel’s Actions in Gaza
Dar continued by rebuking Israel’s military operations in Gaza, describing them as a “reckless disregard for international norms and humanity”. He denounced Israel’s “relentless and disproportionate use of force”, which he said has led to the deaths of tens of thousands and created the worst humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
He called for an immediate halt to Israeli hostilities and reiterated Pakistan’s support for a two-state solution, including the establishment of a viable and contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital. He also warned against unilateral moves aimed at altering the status of disputed territories in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
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South Asia Tensions and Regional Peace
Turning to regional matters, Dar emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to peace and stability with its neighbors. He voiced concern over recent tensions in South Asia, particularly the Pahalgam incident in India-occupied Kashmir, which was prematurely blamed on Pakistan.
“This baseless accusation — made without credible investigation or evidence — nearly pushed the region toward a major conflict between two nuclear-armed states,” he said. “Pakistan responded with restraint and responsibility, but was met with aggression and recklessness.”
Dar called for a structured and comprehensive dialogue to resolve long-standing disputes in the region and underscored the need for adherence to bilateral agreements and diplomatic norms.
He reiterated that sustainable peace in Afghanistan remains a key objective for the SCO, and proposed reviving the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group as a platform for pragmatic cooperation.
