Islamabad, March 26 Pakistan on Thursday strongly objected to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's "broker" comments, saying it reflected a "deeper sense of frustration" on the part of the Indian leadership.
During a meeting with all political parties on Wednesday, the Indian government dismissed Pakistan's reported mediation in the West Asia conflict, saying that the country had been "used" by the US since 1981, sources quoted Jaishankar as saying. "We are not a mediating nation," he reportedly told the meeting attendees.
On Friday, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi was asked about the alleged "offensive language" used by Jaishankar against Pakistan, when he said: "First of all, we reject the Indian statement with the contempt it deserves."
Speaking further about the Indian External Affairs Minister's remarks, he said: "Such undiplomatic rhetoric betrays a deeper sense of frustration. When arguments run out, invective seems to fill the void."
"Pakistan does not subscribe to such grandstanding. Our approach is based on restraint, decorum, and not rhetorical excesses," he said.
Pakistan on Thursday confirmed relaying messages between the US and Iran, saying that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way to end the West Asia conflict.
Starting February 28, the US and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran, which in turn, retaliated, spreading the war to the entire Gulf region.
On a separate issue, Andrabi also said that India has been misusing its status as an upper riparian and is violating its own commitments, not just under the Indus Waters Treaty but also under international law and the responsibilities of the upper riparian.
"We have mechanisms under the Indus Waters Treaty to address these issues, including seasonal variations in river flows. Our Indus Commissioner and relevant officials are aware of these developments (fluctuations in river water levels). We will not allow India to weaponize water," he said.
India had put on hold the 1960 vintage Indus Water Treaty after the April 2025 terror attack at Pahalgam that killed 26 people.