By The Sampadak Express
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed Pakistan’s openness to engage in peace talks with India, just days after the two nuclear-armed nations agreed to pause hostilities following a brief but intense military escalation.
During a visit to the Kamra air base in Punjab province, Sharif addressed officers and personnel involved in the recent confrontation, saying, “Pakistan is ready to talk with India for peace.” However, he emphasized that any dialogue must address the longstanding Kashmir issue a core point of contention between the two countries.
Sharif’s remarks come in the wake of a renewed ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan, which included a mutual agreement to de-escalate and implement confidence-building measures. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that the ceasefire has been extended until May 18, following a hotline conversation between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both sides.
India has maintained a firm stance that Jammu and Kashmir, including Ladakh, are its integral and inalienable territories, rejecting any external claims or conditions on the region.
The current ceasefire was reached on May 10 after a three-day exchange of heavy cross-border fire. The hostilities had flared following India’s Operation Sindoor a retaliatory strike on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the Pahalgam attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
Despite the ceasefire agreement, Pakistan reportedly violated the truce within hours, raising concerns about the durability of the current peace efforts.
The situation remains tense but stable as both nations weigh diplomatic avenues alongside military vigilance.
