New Delhi l
In the wake of heightened military tensions and strong remarks from Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for renewed talks between India and Pakistan to resolve long-standing disputes, including Kashmir.
Speaking at a special Youm-e-Tashakur (Day of Thanks) event in Islamabad on Friday night, Sharif stated,
“India and Pakistan have fought three wars and gained nothing. The lesson is to sit down as peaceful neighbours and settle all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.”
(Source: PTI)
Sharif emphasised that peace in the region would remain elusive without the resolution of these disputes. He also mentioned that peace could open doors for cooperation in areas like counterterrorism.
Background: Operation Sindoor and Military Escalation
Sharif’s statement comes just hours after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a firm warning to Pakistan, asserting,
“Operation Sindoor is not over yet.” Singh referred to the Indian military’s precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7, carried out in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
“We have kept Pakistan on probation. If its behaviour improves, then okay, otherwise, it will be given the strictest punishment,” Singh said.
India has maintained that the only dialogue it is willing to engage in with Pakistan pertains to the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and curbing terrorism.
Ceasefire Agreement and Political Messaging
India and Pakistan had reached an understanding on May 10 to de-escalate a four-day military standoff marked by intense cross-border drone and missile exchanges. Since then, Pakistan has observed two Youm-e-Tashakur events, holding rallies in support of its armed forces.
(Source: PTI)
During his speech, Sharif praised the military’s response to recent escalations, calling it a
“golden chapter in Pakistan’s military history.” While reaffirming Pakistan’s peaceful intentions, he added, “Pakistan reserves the right to give a befitting response in its defence.”
Broader Diplomatic Climate
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours remain high, with mutual accusations over cross-border terrorism and sovereignty violations. The recent flare-up and subsequent ceasefire have reignited discussions about the future of India-Pakistan relations and whether dialogue can resume under current conditions.
India has reiterated that any future engagement with Islamabad must be rooted in concrete actions against terror groups operating from Pakistani soil. This position was underscored by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who made a strong statement regarding Pakistan’s recent moves:
“Pakistan will spend the tax collected from its citizens to give around ₹14 crore to Masood Azhar, the head of Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist organisation, even though he is a UN-designated terrorist. The Pakistan government has also announced financial assistance to rebuild the terror infrastructure of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed located in Muridke and Bahawalpur,” Singh said.
He further warned that “a large portion of the IMF’s $1 billion aid to Pakistan would fund terror infrastructure,” calling it indirect terror financing, and urged that India’s contributions not be used for such purposes.
This quote reflects India’s firm stance that dialogue is not possible while state-backed terror financing continues.As of now, both nations appear to be signalling restraint publicly while asserting strong national positions, keeping the door slightly ajar for diplomacy, but firmly locked unless conditions are met.
