Pakistan Urges U.S. To Mediate With India As Simla Agreement Declared ‘Dead'
TOI.in
/ Jun 06, 2025, 12:46PM IST
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged U.S. mediation with India, calling for comprehensive dialogue on long-standing issues. He praised Donald Trump for defusing tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif added fuel to the fire, declaring the Simla Agreement void and reverting to a UN position on Kashmir. Watch
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Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Bring sponsors, perpetrators & financiers of terror to justice'
NEW DELHI: The 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue saw the two sides stressing that perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of terrorist acts must be held accountable and brought to justice, while also unequivocally condemning the Pahalgam attack. In a joint statement, they underlined the need to strengthen UN-led global counterterrorism cooperation and fully implement the relevant UNSC resolutions, Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and FATF standards. External affairs minister S Jaishankar and his counterparts from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Turkmenistan called on PM Narendra Modi after the Dialogue that saw focus on issues related to connectivity, trade, investment and counterterrorism. "India deeply cherishes its historical ties with the countries of Central Asia. Look forward to working together to further deepen our cooperation in trade, connectivity, energy, fintech, food security and health for mutual progress and prosperity,"Modi said in a post on X, adding both sides stood firm and resolute in their collective fight against terrorism. A joint statement said that the ministers unequivocally condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Peacemaker Or Patron Of Peril? Pakistan's Hollow Gratitude To Saudi Arabia Over India ‘Ceasefire' Reeks of Hypocrisy
New Delhi: In a political theatre draped in hypocrisy and delusion, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's June 6 Eid pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia has revealed more than diplomatic pleasantries, it has exposed Islamabad's deeply flawed obsession with projecting itself as a peace-seeking nation, while covertly fuelling terror and instability across South Asia. While Indian security forces continue to grapple with Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism, the latest being the April 22 deadly Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, Sharif had the gall to thank Saudi Arabia for mediating 'peace' between India and Pakistan. Yes, the same Pakistan whose soil has birthed masterminds like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar now pretends to be a sobered neighbour seeking dialogue. Shehbaz's post-Eid rendezvous with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman became a diplomatic masquerade. Pakistan's PM went as far as commending Riyadh's 'positive and constructive' role in de-escalating recent Indo-Pak tensions. But let us not forget: there was no ceasefire agreement because India needed mediation. It was a tactical decision from New Delhi, calibrated, controlled and backed by military superiority. India, unlike Pakistan, does not run to foreign patrons for a bailout every time tensions flare. It responds with surgical strikes, diplomatic isolations, or, most recently, tough measures like suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, choking Pakistan's already struggling agrarian economy. Islamabad calling it 'Indian aggression' is laughable. The real aggression has always flowed from Rawalpindi's GHQ, not Raisina Hill. Pakistan's Saudi Paradox It is ironic and almost insulting that Pakistan speaks of 'responsible restraint' while praising Saudi Arabia for 'peacemaking', even as ISI-trained militants infiltrate Indian borders. This charade seems more like Islamabad seeking validation for a narrative that has lost global credibility. India has made it clear – terror and talks cannot go together. When New Delhi responds, it does so with clarity, whether it is by revoking Article 370, neutralising terrorists with pinpoint military operations or weaponising diplomacy at global forums like the FATF, where Pakistan continues to oscillate on grey lists. Pakistan's efforts to internationalise every skirmish with India, now disguised under the veil of 'Saudi mediation', are nothing but attempts to cover up its diplomatic failures and domestic chaos. The recent Eid-ul-Adha trip, painted as a triumph, only further illustrated Pakistan's dependence on external crutches to remain relevant on the global stage. Meanwhile, India continues to handle its security and diplomacy with maturity. It does not need foreign intervention to speak for it. India's stance is firm: if Pakistan wants peace, it must first stop exporting terror. Can Saudi Arabia Play a Real Strategic Role? The honest answer is yes, but only if it chooses substance over symbolism. Riyadh holds leverage over Islamabad, not just diplomatically but economically, given the billions in aid and loans Saudi Arabia has extended to keep Pakistan afloat. If the Kingdom truly wishes to play a constructive role in South Asia, it should use that leverage to demand accountability from Pakistan's military and intelligence networks that perpetuate terrorism. It should push for genuine de-radicalisation, not lavish state banquets while terror training camps operate across the LOC. The Kingdom's credibility as a regional power hinges not on polite diplomacy, but on tough conversations behind closed doors. Enough of This Farce India sees the visit a bizarre gratitude Pakistan extended to Saudi Arabia over a supposed 'ceasefire' with New Delhi. There was no such peace deal, just India deciding when and how to engage. After all, why would the world's most populated democracy entertain a dialogue with a rogue state where democracy itself is a puppet of the military? Sharif may find joy in royal luncheons and chauffeured rides by the Saudi Crown Prince. But no amount of hospitality or photo-ops can erase Pakistan's record as the fountainhead of terrorism in South Asia. India does not need a peace certificate from a state that harbours fugitives and celebrates terrorists as martyrs. And if Saudi Arabia truly wants to play peacemaker, it should first urge Pakistan to dismantle its terror infrastructure. Until then, these symbolic gestures and orchestrated hugs in palaces will remain what they truly are – diplomatic illusions in a house of cards.
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
India-Central Asia dialogue condemns terrorism, calls for cooperation
New Delhi [India], June 6 (ANI): The 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue concluded with a strong condemnation of terrorism and a commitment to enhance cooperation in the region in the backdrop of the April 22 Pahalgan terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, stressing that perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of terrorist acts must be held accountable. 'The Ministers unequivocally condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgham. They reaffirmed their firm commitment to fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They reiterated that providing safe haven, using terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism, terror financing, arms and drugs trafficking, dissemination of a radical ideology and abuse of cyber space to spread disinformation and incite violence, goes against the basic principles of humanity and international relations,' read the Joint Statement of 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue. India and the five Central Asian nations' foreign ministers--Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan--emphasised the need to strengthen UN-led global counterterrorism cooperation and fully implement relevant UNSC resolutions, the Global Counterterrorism Strategy, and FATF standards. 'They stressed that perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of terrorist acts must be held accountable and brought to justice. In this context, they called for early adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. They stressed the need to strengthen UN-led global counter-terrorism cooperation and fully implement the relevant UNSC resolutions, Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and FATF standards,' added the statement. The Ministers noted the importance of holding regular consultations among the National Security Councils of India and the Central Asian countries to strengthen efforts to counter terrorism and other emerging challenges in the region. They looked forward to the third edition of the Consultations to be held in the Kyrgyz Republic. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to deepening and expanding collaboration in capacity building. In this regard, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Central Asian countries appreciated the successful organisation of capacity building programmes by India for Drug Law Enforcement Officers from Central Asian countries in December 2024 and on Countering Financing of Terrorism in New Delhi in April 2025, added the statement. They expressed strong support for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, free from terrorism, war, and drugs, and agreed to continue close coordination and consultations on matters related to Afghanistan. 'The Ministers reiterated their strong support for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan which is free from terrorism, war and drugs. They stressed the need to stand by the people of Afghanistan. The Ministers agreed to continue close coordination and consultations on matters related to Afghanistan,' added the statement. The Ministers appreciated the successful annual visits of youth delegations from Central Asian countries to India and emphasised the role of such visits in building strong people-to-people ties. Taking note of the large number of students from India and the Central Asian countries studying in each other's higher educational institutions, the Ministers stressed the importance of ensuring their welfare. The Ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to work towards advancing mutual objectives and deepening collaboration across shared priorities to prepare ground for holding the second India-Central Asia Summit at a mutually convenient date in 2025. The meeting, chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, concluded with a shared commitment to bolster counter-terrorism cooperation through institutional dialogue, legal coordination, and capacity building. The Ministers of Central Asian countries thanked the External Affairs Minister of India for the warm hospitality accorded to their delegations for the 4th meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi. The Ministers agreed to hold the next meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue in 2026, read the bvstatement. (ANI)
