Amid fears of military escalation following the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack, former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has advised his brother, current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to avoid aggression. The attack, which killed 26 people, reportedly involved Pakistan-backed terrorists. This tragedy has escalated tensions between India and Pakistan. Nawaz, a three-time Prime Minister, urged Shehbaz to pursue diplomacy and use all available resources to restore peace with India.
Interesting development
Reports emerging from Pakistan says:@CMShehbaz went to elder brother @NawazSharifMNS to brief him on post- #PahalgamTerroristAttack situation, blaming India for the current tension
In return, the elder Sharif, who was the Pakistan PM during Kargil war,… pic.twitter.com/CtOaqW8BGt
— prabhash k dutta (@PrabhashRinkoo) April 28, 2025
A Call for Diplomacy Rather Than Aggression
The Pahalgam attack has put India and Pakistan on tenterhooks. India is likely to respond, and Pakistan has promised to retaliate. This process of escalation threatens to push the region into war. But Nawaz, who is known for his practical nature, has asked Shehbaz to pursue diplomacy. Sources in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) say that Nawaz Sharif feels that aggressive behavior will only generate more tensions.
Nawaz has always been a proponent of diplomacy with India. In 2018, he demanded improved management of non-state actors who use violence and condemned Pakistan’s reaction to the Mumbai attack. His statement resulted in a case of sedition, but Nawaz has been firm in his conviction that dialogue can de-escalate tensions.
Pakistan’s Reaction to the Pahalgam Attack
After the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan volunteered to carry out an impartial investigation. Yet, Pakistani rhetoric has been acrimonious. Pakistan called India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty an “act of war” and suspended all bilateral agreements, including the 1972 Simla Agreement. Pakistani political rhetoric has also heated up. Federal Minister Hanif Abbasi said that Pakistan’s 130 nuclear missiles were targeting India, poised to fire. Meanwhile, Shehbaz’s coalition partner Bilawal Bhutto Zardari made provocative comments regarding Pakistan’s water rights, threatening that either Pakistan’s water would run, or India’s blood would spill.
The Risk of Escalation
Nawaz Sharif’s appeal for diplomacy is promising, but the threat of military conflict remains. The warlike statements of Pakistani politicians and India’s war preparations can fuel more conflict. Nawaz’s counsel marks a turning point for Pakistan’s leadership. The nation needs to strike a balance between national security and peace. Nawaz realizes that military intervention cannot yield a long-term solution.
Will Diplomacy Prevail?
As tensions escalate, the question is: Will Pakistan’s leadership listen to Nawaz Sharif’s call for diplomacy, or will war talk prevail? The world waits anxiously, aware of the catastrophic effects of a military war between two nuclear powers. Although Nawaz’s counsel provides a way out of war, the future is uncertain.
