Former Diplomat Advocates for Strict Pre-Conditions in Future Talks with India

Aizaz Chaudhry, the former foreign secretary, has stated that any upcoming discussions with India must be subject to stringent pre-conditions. These conditions are necessary to prevent the recurrence of what he described as New Delhi’s repetitive “war drama” every couple of years.

Chaudhry highlighted the importance of securing written assurances to guarantee that such provocations are not repeated. He emphasized that India has consistently incited tensions for political expediency, particularly under the current administration, which he holds responsible for fostering animosity among the Indian populace.

“We must insist that this routine spectacle orchestrated by India is brought to an end,” he asserted.

Chaudhry pointed out that Pakistan faced significant provocation recently, alleging that India not only deployed drones across the border but also initiated a misinformation campaign to falsely claim that Pakistan had launched missiles first.

“They falsely accused us of launching missiles and used that as a rationale for deploying drones,” the former diplomat explained. “We did not resort to falsehoods; rather, we developed our narrative responsibly.”

He suggested the creation of a joint commission involving both nations to investigate such occurrences and avert future escalations. “If such an event transpires, there should be a mechanism—a standard operating procedure—that prompts the immediate establishment of a commission,” Chaudhry proposed.

He also criticized the Indian media for the relentless spread of inaccuracies, stating that the level of disinformation had reached unprecedented heights.

Addressing India’s threat to impede Pakistan’s water supply, Chaudhry deemed it “unacceptable” and a clear infringement of international norms. “There must be a binding, written guarantee that India will refrain from such actions in the future.”

Chaudhry further clarified that if assurances are not obtained on two critical issues — India’s aggressive rhetoric and its confrontational strategies — then any peace negotiations would be unproductive. “Without guarantees on these aspects, I see limited value in pursuing peace talks,” he concluded.