Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Wednesday that peace talks between Pakistan and India could take place in Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the United States acts as a key broker.
In a speech with journalists in Islamabad, the Prime Minister stated that Pakistan had not requested a ceasefire during the recent conflict. “If we had done that, the international community would have known,” he said.
He also said that an agreement was obtained during communication between the director’s general of military operations (DGMOs) in both countries that their respective forces would return to positions before the war.
The premiere confirmed that Pakistan’s delegation would include the National Security Adviser and the Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
In a remembering battle in Pasrur, the prime minister said Pakistani forces kept their land despite great losses.
“Our soldiers stood firm and did not withdraw even when a soldier and eight civilians were martyrated at the checkpoint. They fought for the last man and did not give up their position.”
When asked if Israeli staff was present in India during the conflict, Shearh said Sharif: “There are reports suggesting Israelis were in India. Israel provided extensive support to India during the war, but despite that we came out victorious.”
“The army chief led the war on behalf of all armed forces. We prayed and fought – and we won,” he added.
PM Shehbaz told a phone call in the evening from the Army Chief warning of impending Indian aggression. “At 2:30 pm he called me in anger and said that India was preparing to strike. I said to him: We have no problem – answer and move on.”
He added, “We gave a strong answer to a country five times our size in economic and defense capacity. India saw himself as the region’s police officer – we crushed the arrogance. We fought solely to defend our homeland and sought only God’s joy.”
The prime minister said he had publicly offered a study by the Pahagam attack during a speech at Kakul Military Academy and said Pakistan had no involvement. “The world accepted our attitude and our neutral offer.”
He claimed that India began the conflict and in response, Pakistan destroyed six Indian aircraft, abandoned drones and even targeted the S-400 air defense system of the India’s S-400. “We could have shot down more planes, but exercised restraint.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan had used Chinese technology fully during the recent conflict and joked that the country had become a “marketing nation for China” globally.
He also praised China for standing firm with Pakistan and recognized the strong support received from Turkiye, Saudi -Arabia, UAE and Azerbaijan.
In response to a question about why members of the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) were not included in foreign delegations, Shehbaz said: “These delegations are missions at government level. After comments from some PTI numbers on Indian TV channels, can we take this risk?”
Pakistan-India-Standoff
The latest escalation between Pakistan and India began on April 22 when an attack in the IIOJK Resort city of Pahagam killed 26 people. India immediately accused Pakistan of the incident, despite having provided no public proof.
In response, India took on a number of hostile actions the next day of April 23, including the suspension of the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which canceled Visa for Pakistani citizens, closes the Wagah-Attari border transition, ordered the shutdown of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and the reduction of diplomatic staff at each other’s amount.
Pakistan strongly rejected the accusation and did not call it substantiated, but took mutual measures through his National Security Committee (NSC). These included stopping trade in India, ending Pakistani airspace to Indian aircraft and other recesses.
Tensions further escalated in the early hours of May 7, when missile strikes hit six cities in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), destroy a mosque and kill dozens of civilians, including women, children and the elderly.
In a rapid military reaction, Pakistan’s armed forces shot Indian war plane, including three Rafale jet aircraft, which is largely considered an important asset to the Indian Air Force. Over the following two days, India launched waves of Israeli made drones, which were also neutralized by Pakistan’s military.
The confrontation intensified again in the early hours of May 10 when India targeted several Pakistani Airbases with missile attacks. In contrast, Pakistan Operation launched Bunyanum Marsoos, which damaged Indian military installations, including missile storage sites, airbases and other strategic goals.
On Saturday night, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had reached after an intense diplomatic effort overnight. Minutes later, the agreement was confirmed separately by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Indian Foreign Secretary.
But despite the military ceasefire, the narrative war has waged.
While Pakistan publicly credited US President Donald Trump – along with China and the Gulf States – to have played an important role in rejecting tension, India’s foreign involvement. Indian officials have insisted on the ceasefire was the result of direct bilateral conversations.
However, Trump has repeated his attitude twice after the initial message.
