Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Expresses Willingness for Dialogue with India on Kashmir, Water, Trade, and Terrorism

Islamabad, June 25 : In a significant development amid strained Indo-Pak relations, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed a readiness to engage in a "meaningful dialogue" with India on all long-standing issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, water-sharing, bilateral trade, and terrorism.

Sharif’s remarks were made during a telephonic conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, as reported by Radio Pakistan. The conversation comes just over two months after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed, significantly escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

"Pakistan is ready to engage in a meaningful dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, water, trade, and terrorism," Sharif reportedly told the Saudi Crown Prince, reiterating Islamabad's longstanding position on regional peace and dispute resolution.

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India undertook a series of strong countermeasures, including placing the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) on abeyance, halting all trade with Pakistan, and launching Operation Sindoor on May 7, which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan-administered territories. The operation resulted in four days of intense military exchanges, which ceased on May 10 after an understanding was reached to stop further hostilities.

During the call, Prime Minister Sharif also conveyed gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its continued support during Pakistan’s standoff with India. He also discussed the volatile situation in West Asia, affirming Pakistan’s support for immediate de-escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict and stressing the need for a peaceful resolution through diplomacy.

This is not the first time in recent weeks that Sharif has expressed interest in dialogue. While on visits to Iran and Azerbaijan earlier this month, he had publicly advocated for the resolution of all bilateral issues with India through peaceful talks.

However, India has remained firm on its stance, asserting that any dialogue with Pakistan will be limited to the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the issue of cross-border terrorism. India’s Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reaffirmed this position, saying the Indus Water Treaty would remain suspended until Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably” stops supporting terrorism.

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jaiswal reiterated: “Terror and talks cannot go together; terror and trade cannot go together; and water and blood cannot flow together.”

According to Radio Pakistan, the Saudi Crown Prince thanked Sharif for the call and praised Pakistan’s “constructive role” in promoting peace in the Middle East.

As the geopolitical climate remains tense, the possibility of Indo-Pak dialogue appears remote unless significant policy shifts occur on either side. For now, India’s precondition remains unequivocal—no talks without an end to terrorism.