Islamabad:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) or the United Arab Emirates could be considered potential places for any future dialogue between Pakistan and India, the United States playing a key role in the facilitation of negotiations.
Pakistan / DG National Security Advisor ISI would represent the country in such discussions, he confirmed.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while speaking to superior journalists in the federal capital.
Tensions between Pakistan and India increased on April 22 after New Delhi accused Islamabad of having conducted an attack on the tourist spot of the Iiojk Pahalgam, killing 26 people.
Tensions also degenerated in the early hours of May 7, when the missile strikes reached six cities in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Cashmire (AJK), destroying a mosque and killing dozens of civilians, including women, children and the elderly.
In a rapid military response, the armed forces of Pakistan have shot down Indian war planes, including three Rafale planes, widely considered as a key asset of the Indian Air Force.
The confrontation was again intensified in the early hours of May 10, when India targeted several Pakistani air bases with missile strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, damaging Indian military facilities, including missile storage sites, air bases and other strategic targets.
During a discussion with journalists, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan would choose Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates as a place of future talks with India, the United States playing a major role. He added that the National Security Advisor / DG ISI would represent Pakistan in the negotiations.
He underlined the need for mediation in Indo -Pak talks by international stakeholders – including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and in particular the United States – and has declared that any future negotiation must include a complete program addressing fundamental questions such as cashmere, water, trade and terrorism.
Speaking about the recent conflict with India, the Prime Minister noted that the armed forces of Pakistan had courageously fought against the enemy.
He argued that an agreement had been concluded during communications between the general administrators of military operations (DGMO) of the two countries that their respective forces would return to pre-conflit positions. However, no calendar has been set for withdrawal, he said.
The Prime Minister recalled that during his speech at Kakul Academy, he invited the international community to conduct an open investigation into the attack by Pahalgam. He said that the neutral position of Pakistan had been recognized and that the offer had been accepted worldwide.
When asked if Israel had supported India during the conflict, Shehbaz responded, citing reports indicating Israeli presence and assistance. “Despite this, we have won the victory by God’s grace,” he said, adding that Pakistan used its Juwal Fatah missile system developed at the national level during the conflict.
The Prime Minister said that Marshal Asim Munnir had gained respect because of his “brave and unwavering actions”.
Following the resolute management of the chief of the army, we asked him to play the role of marshal in the field, said Shehbaz, adding that it was at the request of the government – not the desire of the general – that he had offered him the honorary grade of Marshal. “General Munnir’s decisive command earned him respect and led us to ask him to accept this role,” said Sharif.
Journalists joked on the role of Prime Minister’s leadership during the conflict, to which he replied with a smile: “You can call me a Marshal from political field”.
Recalling the conflict, the Prime Minister said that around 2:30 am, he received an angry appeal from the army chief, who informed him that India was preparing to launch an attack. “I told the army chief that we had no hesitation-responding to India, advancing,” he said.
Shehbaz added that Pakistan has given a strong response to a country five times its size, well in advance in economic and military terms. “India considered itself the HHO of the region; we broke this arrogance. We defended the country only for the pleasure of the Almighty,” he said.
He also underlined the value and coordination between all the defense institutions, crediting the Marshal from the air and the naval leadership for strategic execution.
Shehbaz said that Pakistan had the ability to destroy more Indian systems, a restraint was exercised to avoid additional escalation. “We do not want war, but for peace in the region,” he said.
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan and in particular China, for their unshakable support during the conflict.
He noted with fun that Pakistan had indeed become a “marketing country for Chinese technology”, reflecting on its strategic utility during hostilities.
He said that the government intends to complete its mandate, adding: “What is happening in the future is in the hands of God – we are only focusing on our work.”
He reaffirmed the position of Pakistan that she has never supported terrorism and reiterated the country’s commitment to peace and prosperity in the region.
