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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is open to a composite dialogue with India to address all outstanding disputes, including Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said, according to state media on Tuesday, as a ceasefire between the nuclear-armed neighbors continues to hold.

Dar’s comments came after an intense four-day military standoff between the two countries, triggered by a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists in April. India blamed Pakistan for the assault, a charge Islamabad denied while calling for an impartial international probe.

The escalation ended on May 10 with a ceasefire brokered by the United States, which said at the time that both countries had agreed to engage at a neutral venue to resolve their differences.

While Pakistan welcomed the prospect of such talks, offering to enter wide-ranging negotiations to defuse tensions and normalize ties, India publicly declined any political engagement. Dar was asked during a news conference in New York whether there had been any follow-up on that offer during his recent meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, which he said had taken place in a cordial environment.

“Military-to-military communications are taking place [between Pakistan and India],” he told the media, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan, “but there is no contact on the political side.”

“Pakistan is ready for dialogue with India,” he continued. “We seek a composite dialogue that includes Kashmir as well as other issues, including the Indus Waters Treaty.”

Dar reiterated Pakistan’s concerns over India’s unilateral suspension of the IWT, which governs water sharing between the two countries and has been considered a vital pillar of regional stability since its signing in 1960.

India suspended the treaty on April 23, one day after the militant attack in Kashmir. Pakistan warned that disrupting access to rivers would be viewed as “an act of war.”

Dar told the media his country’s defense preparedness was “strong and vigilant.”

He also spoke about Pakistan’s bilateral ties with the US, saying he had invited Secretary Rubio to visit Islamabad.

The deputy PM noted that his country’s diplomatic efforts also extended to neighboring Afghanistan and Iran, with a focus on enhancing regional connectivity through trade and transport corridors.

KARACHI: Pakistan plans to expand its national shipping fleet by 600% over the next three years under a sweeping new initiative to modernize its maritime sector, cut sea freight costs, and reduce dependence on foreign vessels, the country’s maritime minister said on Tuesday.

The announcement came after a signing ceremony where officials from the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Port Qasim Authority (PQA) inked separate agreements with the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) to finance the fleet expansion and upgrade program.

“This initiative reflects our broader vision to modernize the maritime sector, boost operational efficiency and introduce advanced technologies across all institutions,” Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said according to an official statement.

Chaudhry said the expansion would focus on integrating energy-efficient and climate-smart vessels into the state-run fleet to align with Pakistan’s national climate goals.

He said the plan is aimed at conserving foreign exchange and enabling compliance with global environmental standards.

Officials from KPT and PQA said the upgraded fleet would enhance Pakistan’s trade connectivity and reduce the environmental impact of sea transport by lowering fuel consumption and emissions.

Pakistan is stepping up efforts to strengthen port infrastructure to support international trade. The Maritime Affairs Ministry recently announced plans to expand Gwadar Port’s capacity, including the introduction of new shipping lines and a direct ferry service between Gwadar and the Gulf countries, set to improve freight and passenger connectivity with the Gulf region.

Pakistan has also offered access to its southern ports to Central Asian countries, positioning itself as a gateway for regional transit commerce under broader corridor agreements and transit trade frameworks.