Pakistan PM suggests Saudi Arabia for talks with India, US as mediator
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Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday proposed Saudi Arabia as a neutral venue for possible talks with India, suggesting that the United States could act as a mediator between the two countries.
Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, Sharif stated that if discussions were to take place, they would occur at the level of National Security Advisors (NSA) and would centre around key issues such as Kashmir, water, terrorism, and trade. He emphasised that Pakistan's NSA would lead its delegation in any such engagement.
Sharif further noted that bilateral tensions have been de-escalating gradually since the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO) from both nations began engaging in dialogue. “Saudi Arabia can serve as a neutral venue, with the United States taking the lead in mediation. But India has not agreed to any neutral venue so far,” he said, reiterating that Kashmir, water, trade, and terrorism would remain the central topics of discussion if talks were to be held.
The Prime Minister also addressed the recent decision to elevate Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir to the rank of Field Marshal, stating that the move was made by the government after consultation within the Federal Cabinet and with the approval of Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) founder and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks came on a day when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s firm position against engaging in dialogue or trade with Pakistan unless it ends its support for terrorism and relinquishes its illegal occupation of Kashmir.
Addressing a massive public rally in Bikaner, Rajasthan, Prime Minister Modi declared, “If there is to be any talk, it will be on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). If Pakistan continues to export terrorists, it will be left begging for every penny. It will not get a single drop of Indian water.” He warned that “playing with the blood of Indians will cost Pakistan dearly.”
With IANS inputs