Pakistan PM appreciates Iran’s efforts to de-escalate tensions with India
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has hailed Iran’s efforts in helping reduce tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi following a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month, emphasizing the need for resolving differences through dialogue and political solutions.
Sharif made the remarks in a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday, as he appreciated the “benevolent, compassionate, and fraternal efforts” of Iran in resolving misunderstandings and paving the way for a ceasefire between Pakistan and India.
He also praised the recent visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister to Islamabad and the Islamic Republic’s initiative in proposing a ceasefire, assessing the action as an “effective and constructive” step towards reducing tensions.
Sharif further noted that over the past decades, three wars have taken place between Pakistan and India, but none of these conflicts have been able to resolve the main issues between the two nuclear-armed nations.
The Pakistani premier said that his country believes that crises such as the Kashmir conflict, the phenomenon of terrorism, and other disputes between Pakistan and India can only be resolved through dialogue and political solutions.
Sharif, while welcoming the reduction of tensions, the continuation of the ceasefire, and the establishment of lasting peace between Pakistan and India, once again appreciated the efforts and active role of Pezeshkian in facilitating this positive diplomatic process.
He also expressed hope that he could travel to Tehran in the near future to have a cordial meeting with the Iranian president to discuss and exchange views on issues of common interest and other regional issues.
Pezeshkian, for his part, expressed satisfaction at the cessation of hostilities and welcomed the ceasefire between Pakistan and India after days of deadly clashes between the two nations.
He also stressed that Iran has always believed that war and violence not only do not solve problems, but also increase the pain and suffering of nations, and that the sustainable solution to differences is dialogue and interaction, not conflict and bloodshed.
Referring to the principled policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in supporting the establishment of peace, stability, and security in the region, Pezeshkian announced Tehran’s readiness for any cooperation in order to strengthen dialogue and interactions between Pakistan and India, as well as between Tehran and Islamabad.
Emphasizing that the phenomenon of terrorism is one of the fundamental challenges of the region, Pezeshkian stated that fighting this common threat requires synergy, coordination, and brotherhood among regional countries.
The Iranian president further welcomed the upcoming visit of the Pakistani prime minister to Tehran, expressing hope that this visit would deepen bilateral relations and increase cooperation in areas of common interest.
On May 10, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ishaq Dar, announced a ceasefire after several days of military strikes and counterstrikes triggered by the deadly Pahalgam attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists.
Both sides had hinted that the ongoing tensions could escalate into a military confrontation. The United Nations urged both sides to exercise restraint.
