Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated on Thursday that he was willing to enter peace negotiations with India following the two nations reaching an agreement on May 10 to cease all hostilities, said Reuters.
Background: Terror Attack in Pahalgam Escalates Tensions
The hostilities between the two nations had escalated following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that had killed 26 civilians. The Terror Front (TRF), which is a spin-off of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, had taken responsibility for the terror strike.
India had on May 7 launched a series of targeted strikes, as part of Operation Sindoor, on terrorist facilities at nine places in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).
Bilateral Ceasefire Agreement between Pakistan and India
India and Pakistan experienced four days of heavy armed clashes through the use of drones, missiles, and long-range artillery before coming to a bilateral agreement on stopping armed action on May 10.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said India would engage in negotiations with India’s neighbour, provided they would commit to fighting terrorism and closing down terror infrastructure within their nation.
The minister said, “I think the Prime Minister made it very clear that the only talks with Pakistan will be on terror, that Pakistan has a list of terrorists who need to be handed over, they have to shut down the terrorist infrastructure,” he said. “They know what to do. We are prepared to discuss with them what is to be done on terrorism. Those are the talks which are feasible.”
Indus Waters Treaty Remains Suspended
Jaishankar also pointed out that the Cabinet Committee on Security and the government were very clear. The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 “will continue to be held in abeyance until cross-border terrorism by Pakistan is credibly and irrevocably stopped.”
