Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar rejected what he described as India’s “baseless accusations and inflammatory rhetoric” against Pakistan, during a telephone call with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov on Sunday.

According to a statement from the Foreign Office, Dar also condemned India’s unilateral decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and called it a breach of New Delhi’s international obligations.

The Foreign Minister informed Lavrov about the developing regional situation following increased tension between Islamabad and New Delhi. He reiterated that while Pakistan remains obliged to regional peace, it will “firmly protect its sovereignty and national interests.”

Dar Renew Pakistan’s call for “an international, transparent and independent investigation” in the recent Pahagam event and rejects any attempt to link Pakistan to the case without evidence.

In response, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov expressed concern about the situation and emphasized the need for diplomacy. “Both sides must exercise restraint and avoid escalation,” he said, according to the Foreign Office.

The two leaders also reviewed the state of Pakistan-Russia’s connections and confirmed their obligation to strengthen cooperation in trade, energy and defense.