Monitoring Desk
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday extended an invitation to India for comprehensive dialogue to resolve long-standing disputes, including the Kashmir issue and water sharing, while warning of severe consequences in the event of further Indian aggression.
During a visit to the frontline Pasrur Cantonment in Sialkot, the prime minister praised Pakistan’s armed forces for their decisive response under “Operation Bunyanum Marsoos” following recent Indian strikes. He revealed that Pakistan had targeted 26 Indian military installations using fighter jets and missiles, inflicting significant losses, including the downing of several Indian Rafale aircraft.
“You have taken revenge for the 1971 war… and now the whole nation stands with you,” the premier told troops, adding a stern warning to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: “If you attack us again, you will lose everything. We are ready for war and dialogue — the choice is yours.”
The prime minister also issued a firm warning on the issue of water, calling it a “red line” for Pakistan. Referring to the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, which he said had been targeted by India, he cautioned: “If the damage had been serious, we could have destroyed your major dams, including Baglihar Dam.”
Despite heightened tensions, PM Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to resolve disputes through diplomacy. “Let us extinguish this fire. Let us sit together to talk on Kashmir and water,” he said.
Tensions have spiked since India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people. No group claimed responsibility, but India blamed Pakistan — a charge Islamabad rejects, demanding an independent probe. Pakistan responded with retaliatory strikes between May 6 and 7.
World Bank President Ajay Banga, in a recent interview, stated that the treaty does not contain any clause allowing for its suspension. “It either needs to be gone or replaced by another one, and that requires the two countries to want to agree,” he said, reiterating the Bank’s role as a facilitator, not a decision-maker.
PM Shehbaz also condemned India’s actions as violations of international law, especially the targeting of civilians. “Labeling children, women, and the elderly as terrorists is shameful and against all moral and legal norms,” he said, adding that India launched its offensive on false pretexts and arrogance.
Later in the day, the prime minister briefed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres during a telephone call, expressing appreciation for the UN’s diplomatic engagement. This marked the third such interaction in two weeks. PM Shehbaz highlighted the urgency of resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with UN Security Council resolutions to ensure lasting peace in South Asia.
UN Secretary General Guterres welcomed the ceasefire agreement and expressed condolences over civilian casualties, reaffirming the UN’s commitment to fostering regional stability.
The Pakistani leader also held a phone call with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, thanking the UAE for its diplomatic support during the crisis. In a separate meeting, he conveyed gratitude to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev via Ambassador Khazar Farhadov for Azerbaijan’s solidarity.
In a humanitarian gesture, Pakistan repatriated an Indian border guard, Purnam Kumar Shaw, who had been in custody since April 23, following the Pahalgam attack.
