Islamabad:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir traveled to Saudi Arabia for a day-long trip on Thursday, the Deputy Prime Minister said Wednesday, adding that the visit is part of Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic seeking in the wake of brewery with India.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told the media that the prime minister accompanied by the army chief would thank the Saudi leadership for expressing solidarity with Pakistan in recent military escalation with India.
Saudi Arabia was one of the most important players who not only played a role in averting a crisis after the Pahaldam attack, but also helping to mediate the ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The Prime Minister and Field Marshal earlier traveled to Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan and Tadsjikistan for thanking them for their support to Pakistan in the light of Indian aggression.
Surprisingly, Pakistan not only had an upper hand on the battlefield, but also surpassed India on the diplomatic front. India despite having huge financial threat could not win the support of its equally closest allies, including the United States.
Dar told journalists that India’s attempt to put a ‘new normal’ had been buried and the world witnessed its allegations of hegemony blown up in the air during the recent conflict with Pakistan.
The Foreign Minister revised the number and said Pakistan shot down six Indian fighter jets, including four Frenchmen, Rafale. Earlier, Pakistan said three Rafale jet plans were among the six aircraft shot down by Pakistan on the night of May 7.
The Indian Defense Chief last week publicly admitted publicly that a number of Indian aircraft were set up by Pakistan on the night of May 7. However, Anil Chuhuan insisted that numbers did not do anything, something that drew a strong reaction from the Indian opposition and government critics.
Dar said Pakistan’s kinetic action had been appreciated, its diplomatic efforts also earned international recognition. He noted that there was even a scream in India over Pakistan’s successful diplomatic outreach.
He said the ceasefire held, but lamented political rhetoric from India and said that the Indian leaders did so in the coming election.
The Foreign Minister said Pakistan was ready for a dialogue with India, but not desperate for that. “Pakistan is looking for a composite dialogue that includes terrorism as well as other questions, including the Indus Waters Treaty.”
He said that if India tried to divert or stop water, it would constitute an act of war. He said the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be suspended or amended under international law.
When he turned to the recent four-nation tour, Dar said the prime minister made a visit to Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan and Tadsjikistan to express Pakistan’s gratitude for the solidarity expressed by these countries during the conflict with India.
