Islamabad: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has said India’s jingoism and hegemonic proclivities have put regional peace and stability at stake. During a dialogue with representatives from prominent U.S. think-tanks at the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C., he said the unilateral decision by the Indian government regarding the Indus Waters Treaty is contrary to its provisions. He reiterated that usurping the rights of the lower riparian and attempting to harm the agrarian economy of 240 million people would be considered an act of war. He said India has been displaying an attitude of lawlessness for a long time.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Ambassador reiterated Pakistan’s call for a neutral, credible, and independent inquiry into the Pahalgam incident, potentially under UN auspices or with the involvement of major powers of the world. Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh briefed the participants about the Pahalgam incident, questioning the plausibility of India’s allegations against Pakistan, given the absence of evidence despite a First Information Report (FIR) filed within ten minutes.

The Ambassador contextualized the incident against the backdrop of India’s unilateral revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A in August 2019, which stripped IIOJK of its special status. He described the region as ‘the world’s largest prison,’ where media, internet, and movement have been heavily restricted, creating an environment of repression.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestation, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh underscored Pakistan’s own suffering, with over one thousand terrorist incidents in the past year, a forty percent increase from 2023.

Expressing gratitude to the governments of the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and others for their support for peace, the Ambassador highlighted that the current crisis provided a latent opportunity to global powers to help addressing the longstanding Kashmir dispute, which continues to threaten regional peace.

He invited the think-tank representatives to share their insights. Rizwan Saeed Sheikh encouraged a robust exchange to navigate the region’s complex dynamics, underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to evidence-based discourse, regional peace, and international cooperation in combating terrorism and resolving disputes.