Shehbaz Sharif Offers Peace Talks to India, Calls for Resolution on Kashmir and Trade

Shehbaz Sharif Proposes Peace Talks with India, Urges Dialogue on Kashmir and Trade

Written by: Supriya Kadu

Edited by: Pinky Deshmukh

Last Updated: May 27, 2025

Summary: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif urges India to resume dialogue to resolve key issues like Kashmir, water disputes, and trade during his Iran visit.

Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, has called on India to participate in extensive peace talks. During his visit to Tehran, Sharif stated that, to establish long-term peace in the area, Pakistan is prepared to talk about all significant issues, such as commerce, water sharing, terrorism, and Kashmir.

“We want to resolve all issues, including the Kashmir dispute and water concerns, through negotiations,” he said, adding that Islamabad is also willing to talk trade and anti-terror cooperation.

Sharif's outreach comes amid current tensions between the two countries, which erupted following a terrorist incident in Pahalgam and India's military reaction, Operation Sindoor. While a cease-fire was eventually established, the relationship remains fragile.

However, India has taken a careful approach. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that talks with Pakistan can only happen if terrorism is addressed. He mentioned that "talks and terror cannot go hand in hand," highlighting India's insistence that Pakistan needs to act against terrorist groups based in its territory.

During their visit to Iran, Sharif and Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir met with Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who supported Muslim unity and peaceful conflict settlement.

While Sharif's remark indicates a readiness to re-establish ties, actual progress will be dependent on concrete action and mutual trust, both of which are fragile in the current global situation.