Islamabad, May 15 – Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended an offer of dialogue to India on Thursday, stating that his country is willing to engage in talks "for peace." The statement comes in the aftermath of recent military clashes between the two nuclear-armed neighbors and marks a rare outreach from Islamabad amidst ongoing tensions.
As per agency report, Sharif made the remarks during a visit to the Kamra Air Base in Punjab province, where he met with officials and personnel who had been involved in the recent conflict with India. Speaking at the base, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan is ready to enter into negotiations with India under the broader aim of achieving peace.
However, he also underscored that the “conditions for peace” would include discussions surrounding the Kashmir issue, which remains a central and long-standing point of contention between the two countries. India has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir, along with Ladakh, are its integral and inalienable parts and will always remain so.
The visit was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Army Chief General Asim Munir, and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, signaling a unified front by Pakistan’s civil and military leadership.
This development comes shortly after heightened military engagements between the two nations, following India’s Operation Sindoor targeting terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. While both countries agreed to a ceasefire on May 10, the atmosphere remains tense, making Sharif’s offer a notable diplomatic gesture.
Whether India responds to the proposal remains to be seen, particularly in light of New Delhi's stated position that cross-border terrorism and dialogue cannot go hand in hand.
