Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's recent offer for peace talks with India marks a significant diplomatic overture amid heightened tensions between the two countries following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor. Speaking in Tehran during his multi-nation diplomatic tour, Sharif expressed Pakistan’s readiness to negotiate on all major issues, including Kashmir, terrorism, water sharing, and trade.
This statement comes just weeks after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire following a sharp escalation. India’s Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. Pakistan responded with drone and missile strikes, prompting further counter-attacks from India on Pakistani army installations.
Sharif’s message was both conciliatory and cautionary. While he reiterated Pakistan’s willingness to engage in sincere peace efforts, he also issued a veiled warning: "If they choose to remain aggressors, then we shall defend our territory... But if they accept my offer of peace, then we will show that we really want peace, seriously and sincerely."
However, India remains firm in its stance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ruled out any broad-spectrum dialogue with Pakistan, clearly stating that talks would be restricted to counter-terrorism and the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He reiterated:
"Terror and talks cannot happen at the same time. Terror and trade cannot take place. Blood and water cannot flow together."
India has also emphasized that any potential dialogue would be a strictly bilateral matter, implicitly rejecting offers such as US President Donald Trump's past suggestion to mediate on Kashmir.
The situation remains fragile but under control since the May 10 ceasefire, brokered after high-level military talks. While Islamabad’s diplomatic overtures are being seen as an attempt to stabilize relations, New Delhi’s focus on national security, cross-border terrorism, and PoK continues to define the scope of any future engagement.
At present, while there is a window for dialogue, it remains narrow, conditional, and heavily contingent on Pakistan’s actions regarding terrorism.
