We are ready to talk with India on all issues, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif tells Saudi Price Salman

Time of India

5 hours ago

Shehbaz Sharif wants talks with India to resolve issues. This includes Jammu and Kashmir, water, trade, and terrorism. This happens after the Pahalgam attack and India's response. India wants Pakistan to end terrorism first. Sharif also spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. They discussed regional tensions and the need for peaceful solutions. The Crown Prince appreciated Pakistan's support.
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Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed a willingness to engage in a "meaningful dialogue" with India to resolve all outstanding issues, as reported by PTI. The statement was made during a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, marking a diplomatic overture a little over two months after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people and sharply escalated tensions between the two countries.'Pakistan is ready to engage in a meaningful dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, water, trade and terrorism,' Sharif said, as quoted by Radio Pakistan.Following the Pahalgam attack, India responded with a series of punitive actions, including suspending the Indus Water Treaty , halting all trade with Pakistan, and launching Operation Sindoor on May 7. The operation targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories and led to four days of military clashes, which concluded on May 10 following an understanding to cease hostilities.During the conversation, Sharif also thanked the Saudi Crown Prince for the Kingdom's continued support amid the recent India-Pakistan standoff, according to Pakistan's state-run broadcaster.This is not the first time Sharif has signalled openness to dialogue. He had earlier made similar remarks during visits to Iran, Azerbaijan and in a telephone call to US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stating Pakistan's readiness to discuss a range of issues with India, including Kashmir, terrorism, water and trade.India, however, has maintained a firm stance. The Ministry of External Affairs has reiterated that talks with Pakistan can only focus on the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and ending terrorism. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Indus Water Treaty will remain suspended until Pakistan permanently halts support for cross-border terrorism 'Just like Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: 'terror and talks cannot go together, terror and trade cannot go together, and water and blood cannot flow together,'' Jaiswal added.Meanwhile, the conversation between Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also covered the situation in West Asia. Sharif expressed Pakistan's support for the immediate de-escalation of tensions between Iran and Israel and called for a peaceful resolution through diplomatic means. The Crown Prince, in response, appreciated Pakistan's gesture of solidarity and acknowledged its role in promoting dialogue in the region.(With inputs from PTI)