Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif Signals Willingness for Peace Talks with India After Ceasefire Deal

Quick Summary:

• Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed willingness for “peace talks” with India days after a ceasefire understanding was reached.
• The ceasefire followed escalations stemming from the Indian military’s ‘Operation Sindoor,’ which targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan’s Punjab province. Over 100 terrorists were reportedly killed.
• ‘Operation Sindoor’ was launched as retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir,where 26 people were killed by terrorists at Baisaran Valley.
• Post-operation, Pakistan carried out drone and missile attacks on Indian border regions, which were mostly intercepted by India’s air defense systems.
• India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan will remain suspended unless cross-border terrorism is halted. He also clarified that India’s only conversation with Pakistan would pertain to PoK.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The developments highlight ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan over cross-border terrorism and territorial disputes such as PoK. While PM Shehbaz Sharif’s call for peace talks reflects a willingness to engage diplomatically, it comes against the backdrop of repeated hostilities, including retaliatory strikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’ and subsequent missile attacks.

India’s firm stance-linking dialog solely to matters concerning PoK-underscores its priority towards core national security interests without preconditions on ending violence originating from Pakistani soil. This approach aligns with India’s broader strategy of leveraging strategic operations alongside diplomatic pressure to deter terrorism networks.

The implications for bilateral relations hinge on whether substantive measures are taken by both countries toward reducing conflict triggers like cross-border infiltration or provocative military actions near borders.For now, mutual distrust remains high despite overtures toward peace.

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