The High commissioner of Pakistan to Rwanda and Ambassador to Angola and Burundi,
Ambassador NAEEM Khan calls international community to support all initiatives for peace
talks between his country Pakistan and India.
In interview with PAX PRESS, Ambassador NAEEM Khan, condemned the recent attack of
India to Pakistan on many civilian establishments, where many people died and others
have got injured. “The position of Pakistan is that Pakistan is available for any Peace talks,
available to resolve all pending issues, including Kashmir, which is a disputed area with
India”, said Ambassador NAEEM Khan. “Pakistan invites all friend countries and the
international community to come and help to set peace talks process in this region”, he added.
His Excellency Ambassador Naeem Khan
The Pakistani representative to Rwanda recalls that both India and Pakistan are nuclear
armed countries, (both have nuclear weapons). And if the conflict persists it can lead to the
use of nuclear arms. “Any disaster from the use of nuclear arms will not be only for both
countries but it will be harmful for the whole world”, alerts Ambassador NAEEM Khan.
Hostilities between India and Pakistan have intensified after the killing of 26 people by
gunmen in an attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, on 22 April 2025. India
accused Pakistan to support terrorism in Indian-administered Kashmir, but Islamabad has
denied any involvement. The aftermath has led to a series of reprisals and raised fear
of military escalation between the two nuclear-armed rivals.
In the wake of the attack, tit-for-tat measures by India and Pakistan have driven
bilateral relations to their lowest point in recent years. New Delhi first took
measures to downgrade ties with Pakistan, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty,
terminating a visa-free travel regime with Pakistan, and closing the Attari border
crossing between the two countries. Indian security forces have arrested over 1,500
Kashmiris and demolished homes of suspected militants.
In turn, Pakistan rejected the suspension of the water treaty, warning that any
attempts to alter Pakistan’s Indus River flows would be considered “an act of war.”
Islamabad also moved to close Pakistani airspace to all Indian commercial airlines,
halted a special visa regime for Indian citizens, and suspended bilateral trade. After a militant attack in Kashmir, the Indian government said it was suspending its participation
in a treaty that governs most of the water used in Pakistani agriculture.
His Excellency Ambassador Naeem Khan
Violation of Indus Water Treaty as serious Human rights concern.
The High commissioner of Pakistan to Rwanda revealed that “one of the serious issues which
is causing the persistence of this conflict is the violation of the Indus Water Treaty”. For him,
India unilaterally withdrew from the Indus Water Treaty, without giving any notice to
other signatory parties. The World Bank said it would not intervene in the dispute as its
role in the treaty was limited to that of a facilitator.
On 23 April 2025, following a terrorist attack near Pahalgam in Kashmir, the Government
of India declared the suspension of the treaty with Pakistan citing national security
concerns. India threatens to stop the water coming to Pakistan. This will cause many
problems on agriculture, on industries, and on the public health. Ambassador NAEEM Khan
notes that “water should not be weaponised. Water should not be used as a weapon against
anyone, any country even if is considered as enemy, because it a humanity involved”. “If India
stops water to Pakistan, It is putting in danger the life of 250 Millions people. It is a big
number of humanity”, he added.
After a militant attack in Kashmir, the Indian government said it was suspending its
participation in a treaty that governs most of the water used in Pakistani agriculture.
The Indus Water Treaty was a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan,
arranged and negotiated by the World Bank, to use the water available in the Indus River
and its tributaries. It was signed in Karachi on 19 September 1960 by Indian prime
minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani president Ayub Khan.
The Indus Waters Treaty allowed Pakistan to control waters from three western rivers, the
Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, while granting India access to the eastern rivers, Ravi, Sutlej,
and Beas. These rivers are crucial for Pakistan, providing around 80% of its water used for
irrigation and drinking purposes. Much of the headwaters are located in India, despite most
irrigation systems falling in Pakistan. “There is a greater dependency on this basin for
Pakistan than there is for India”, note experts.
For His Excellency Ambassador Naeem Khan “water should not be weaponized”.
Stop accusing each other of terrorism to avoid escalation of war
On April 22, 2025, tensions escalated after militants attacked Indian tourists in
Kashmir, killing twenty-five Indian nationals and one Nepalese national. India
blamed Pakistan for harboring the group responsible for the attack and arrested two
Pakistani nationals as suspects. Pakistan denied any involvement.
India affirms this was a terrorist activity done by The Resistance Front (TRF). India
accuses Pakistan for supporting this terrorist group. The representative of Pakistan in
Rwanda, Angola and Burundi, Ambassador Khan rejects these allegations. “We invite the
entire international community to come and set if India has any proof showing that Pakistan
is involved in any terrorism activity”, states Ambassador Naeem Khan.
On April 24, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood before a crowd in the northern
state of Bihar and declared: “India will identify and punish every terrorist and their
backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the earth. India’s spirit will never be broken by
terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished.”
On his side, Pakistan affirms also to have very strong evidences that India is involved in
many terrorist activities in Pakistan especially in the province of Balochistan, located in the
southwestern region of the country. Pakistani officials say they have shown and are ready
to show to international community how India is involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan.
On behalf of the Pakistani Government, Ambassador Khan advocates for an
independent investigation into the attack and its suspects so that the real
responsible can be revealed and punished. “Pakistan is committed to fight any terrorism
activities and punish anyone involved in terrorist actions”, insists the Pakistani
representative.
Like other pakistani officials, Ambassador khan reaffirms that “accusing each other of
terrorism is not the solution but negotiations and cooperation aiming to restore peace in the
entire region is a priority”. Both countries should seat around the peace table and resolve all
pending conflicts. “There is a possibility of reestablishing peace, as Pakistan wants peace, the
neighbor should want peace too”, hopes the Pakistani diplomat. “Each country should
focus on the resolution of its internal problems, such jobs, employment, making scientific
development instead of fighting”, advises Ambassador Khan.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif declared that “Pakistan ready for peace
talks”. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed willingness to engage in
peace talks with India. During his visit to Iran, Sharif emphasized the need for dialogue to
resolve all outstanding issues between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Sharif said,
“Peace between Pakistan and India will not only benefit our two countries but also
contribute to regional peace and prosperity.”
Pakistan in brief
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia, considered a large and
significant country in Asia, both in terms of population and area. It is the 9 th largest country
in Asia by area and 5 th largest by population, with around 250 millions people, making it
one of the most populous countries in the world and Asia, having the second-largest
Muslim population as of 2023. Islamabad is the nation’s capital, while Karachi is its largest
city and financial centre.
Kashmir in brief
The Kashmir conflict is a long-standing dispute between India and Pakistan, with Indian-
Administered Kashmir and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir.
In 1989, an armed insurgency erupted against Indian rule in Indian-administered Kashmir
Valley seeking creation of an independent state based on demands for self-determination.
Ambassador Naeem Khan reveals that Pakistan proposes to organize a referendum for the
people of Kashimir so that they can decide by themselves if they want to join Pakistan or
India.
Counterinsurgency by the Indian government was coupled with repression of the local
population and increased militarisation of the region, while various insurgent groups
engaged in a variety of criminal activity.
According to scholars, Indian forces have committed many human rights abuses and acts of
terror against the Kashmiri civilian population, including extrajudicial killing, rape, torture,
and enforced disappearances. Human rights defenders have also accused the Indian
government of refusing to prosecute perpetrators of abuses in the region.
By Albert Baudouin Twizeyimana
Peace Journalism Trainer/PAX PRESS