In Azerbaijan, Pak PM renews call for talks with India to resolve disputes
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed his desire to resume talks with India, calling for a peaceful resolution of long-standing disputes including Kashmir, water sharing and terrorism.Sharif's statement came during the Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit held in Azerbaijan's Lachin, attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.Notably, this marks Sharif's second call for dialogue this week, following a similar statement made on Monday in Tehran, where he emphasised readiness to resolve all issues with India through talks.advertisement
However, India has maintained a firm stance, asserting that any dialogue must focus solely on the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the eradication of terrorism."We must sit together and talk for the sake of peaceThere are issues that demand immediate attention and must be addressed through dialogue,' Pakistani media quoted Sharif as saying, underlining the urgency of issues such as Kashmir, which he claimed should be resolved in accordance with UN resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people.He also indicated Pakistan's openness to discuss terrorism with India 'in sincerity of purpose' and showed interest in resuming trade relations, stalled since tensions escalated in recent years."I have said in all earnest that if India wants to talk on countering terrorism in sincerity of purpose, Pakistan would be willing to talk to India on this issue as well," he added.advertisementFurthermore, Sharif criticised India's decision to put the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, describing it as critical to Pakistan's agricultural and human needs.The recent deterioration in India-Pakistan relations follows the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack which resulted in 26 deaths. In response, India retaliated with Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.Pakistan launched attempted strikes on Indian military bases on May 8-10, all of which were repelled by Indian forces. The hostilities ceased after a meeting between the directors general of military operations on May 10, where both sides agreed to stop military actions.Must Watch
IN THIS STORY#Operation Sindoor#India-Pakistan#Pakistan
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Hindustan Times
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