Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made a big statement. He said that his country is ready for meaningful talks with India to resolve all pending issues. He made this comment during a meeting with British High Commissioner Jane Marriott. Bilateral relations between the two countries and the regional situation of South and West Asia were also discussed in this meeting.
Appreciation of Britain’s role in reducing tensions
Prime Minister Sharif appreciated Britain’s role in de-escalating tensions during the Pakistan-India standoff. He reiterated that Pakistan is keen to engage with India on all pending issues including Kashmir.
‘Operation Sindoor’ and India’s hardwoods
It is worth noting that recently the tension between India and Pakistan had increased significantly. In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7. As part of this military operation, terrorist bases in Pakistan-controlled areas were targeted. These attacks led to four days of fierce clashes between the two countries, which ended with an agreement to cease military operations on 10 May.
India has made it clear several times that it will hold meaningful talks with Pakistan only if Pakistan takes serious action on the issue of terrorism and is ready to hand over the illegally occupied areas of Jammu and Kashmir to India.
India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had clearly stated in the Parliament that India will talk with Pakistan only on the issue of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and terrorism.
Suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and restrictions on airspace
After ‘Operation Sindoor’, India took another big step and temporarily suspended the Indus Water Treaty. India has made it clear that the suspension will be lifted only if Pakistan stops exporting terrorism across the border.
In between all these, both countries have increased the restrictions imposed on each other’s airspace. India has extended the ban on Pakistani aircraft till August 24. The ban was imposed from April 30 after the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed. The ban, which was initially imposed till May 24, has been extended several times.