While one might see Sharif’s effort as an initiative to initiate dialogue with India, it is nothing more than another diplomatic smokescreen, given Islamabad’s dubious record on curbing terrorism.
Weeks after Operation Sindoor, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reportedly expressed readiness for a “meaningful dialogue” with India during a telephonic conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. India, however, has maintained that any talks are not possible while the neighbouring country is promoting cross-border terrorism and Sharif’s statement is nothing more than another diplomatic smokescreen, given Islamabad’s dubious record on backing and financing terrorism. Notably, Pakistan PM’s remarks come just weeks after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. According to the NIA, three Pakistan-based terrorists from the UN-proscribed militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were behind the attack.
During a call with MBS, Sharif expressed willingness to engage in a “meaningful dialogue” with India to resolve “all outstanding bilateral issues.” “Pakistan is ready to engage in a meaningful dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, water, trade and terrorism,” he was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan, as per a PTI report.
Earlier last month, Sharif, in Iran and in Azerbaijan, had expressed willingness to hold peace talks with India to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, terrorism, water and trade.
India has maintained that any meaningful dialogue with Islamabad is only possible in an atmosphere free of cross-border terrorism, adding that the only issue left is the return of the illegally occupied part of Jammu and Kashmir. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reiterating India’s bold stance, said “water and blood can’t flow together”. “Terror and trade cannot go hand in hand,” PM Modi had said.
Three Pakistan-based terrorists from the UN-proscribed militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were behind the terror attack in Pahalgam, according to NIA. Following the terror attack in Pahalgam, India took several multiple punitive measures, including putting the 1960 vintage Indus Water Treaty (IWT) on abeyance and stopping all trade with Pakistan.
India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, under which the Indian Armed Forces destroyed terror infrastructure at nine “known locations” in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. There were four days of intense clashes that ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions on May 10, following Islamabad’s ceasefire request.
Earlier in May, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has already stated that talks between Delhi and Islamabad would be on India’s concerns about Pakistan-based terror outfits.