India and Pakistan have shared a history filled with promises of peace followed by painful betrayals. No leaders have represented this pattern more clearly than Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif. Between them, the brothers have ruled Pakistan for nearly 12 years. They often appeared friendly in public meetings, yet violent attacks followed shortly after. Rather than being at odds with Pakistan’s powerful military, the Sharifs have often supported the country’s anti-India policies — pushing a strategy of indirect warfare while pretending to champion diplomacy.

Nawaz Sharif and the Broken Promise of 1999

In 1999, then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif welcomed India’s Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lahore. Their meeting and the Lahore Declaration gave hope of peace. But just weeks later, Pakistani troops and militants invaded Kargil under the orders of General Pervez Musharraf.

Modi’s Lahore Visit and the Repeat of History

In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to Lahore to meet Nawaz Sharif. This was meant to be a goodwill gesture. However, just days later, terrorists attacked the Pathankot Air Force base. The attackers belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammed, a group based in Pakistan.

Nawaz condemned the attack, but the same terror networks continued to operate. Once again, India saw that peace talks were followed by violence. The pattern seen after the 1999 Lahore visit repeated itself.

Uri Attack and India’s Changing Approach

In 2016, militants killed Indian soldiers in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, in a surprise attack. Investigations linked the attackers to Pakistan-based groups. This time, India responded differently — it carried out surgical strikes across the border.

This marked a shift in India’s thinking. It no longer separated Pakistan’s civilian government from its military when it came to terrorism. Nawaz Sharif’s government, by then nearing the end of its term, was no longer seen as helpless. Instead, its failure to act was viewed as a deliberate choice.

Shehbaz Sharif and Rising Violence

When Shehbaz Sharif took office as prime minister in 2022 and again in 2024, violence against India continued. His term saw some of the worst terror attacks in recent memory.

On January 1, 2023, gunmen attacked homes in Rajouri. They chose targets based on religion and killed innocent civilians, including women and children. The TRF (The Resistance Front) was suspected to be behind the attack. The brutality suggested a rise in religious and cross-border militancy.

In June 2024, militants carrying American-made M4 guns — used by Pakistan’s special forces — ambushed pilgrims in Reasi. Although the TRF first claimed responsibility and later withdrew the claim, Indian intelligence agencies said the attack had all signs of state support.

Then came April 2025. In Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, militants opened fire on unarmed tourists. Twenty-eight people were killed, many others injured. The TRF justified the killings by saying they were opposing “demographic changes” — echoing the Pakistani government’s language on Kashmir. Indian officials said this was a clear attempt to internationalise the Kashmir issue and challenge India’s authority.

The Sharifs: Behind the Mask of Peace

Both Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif have tried to portray themselves as civilian leaders who want peace. But this image hides their actual role. They have worked closely with Pakistan’s deep state — including the army and the ISI — in keeping anti-India policies alive.

Peace talks under their leadership have never been followed by meaningful action. Terror groups have rebranded themselves but continued their operations under government protection. The Sharifs used peace gestures as tactics — not to build trust but to buy time.

The Myth of Civil-Military Conflict

Some in the international community view Pakistan’s civilian leaders and military as being in constant conflict. Nawaz and Shehbaz are often seen as victims of military control. But this idea doesn’t hold up when looking at their policies toward India and Kashmir.

When it comes to India, the Sharifs and the army have worked with a shared goal. The military provides arms and training to terrorists. The Sharifs give diplomatic cover by denying links and issuing statements. This teamwork shows that Pakistan’s foreign policy isn’t divided — it is disturbingly well-coordinated.

Diplomatic Deception as a Political Strategy

Perhaps the most dangerous legacy of the Sharif brothers is the use of deception as a formal part of foreign policy. In their time, peace efforts have been used as tools of manipulation. From Kargil to Pahalgam, every peace attempt was followed by a deadly attack.

India’s efforts at dialogue were never matched by sincerity from the Sharifs. They did not engage in peace talks to reach agreements — they used them as distractions while preparing for further violence.

Twelve Years of Deliberate Sabotage

Over twelve years in power, Nawaz and Shehbaz have left behind not a legacy of peace, but of violence and trickery. They did not dismantle terror networks. Instead, those networks evolved with new names like TRF and People’s Anti-Fascist Front. But the ideology and support remained the same.

India has learned not to trust the Sharifs easily. The hope that civilian governments in Pakistan would act differently has been replaced by caution. The names of those killed in Pathankot, Uri, Rajouri, Reasi, and Pahalgam stand as grim reminders of that lesson.

No More Illusions

The time has come to let go of the belief that the Sharif brothers ever intended to bring peace. They were not peacemakers. They were part of a dangerous game of lies and violence.

“The blood that has soaked Indian soil over the years has come not just from the barrels of terrorist guns but from the boardrooms of Pakistani power, where monsters masquerade as moderates and every olive branch hides a blade.”

India must not forget the price it paid for misplaced trust. It must not be deceived again.