Islamabad [Pakistan]: Days after India launched Operation Sindoor, striking nine terror camps and damaging airfields in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed willingness to hold peace talks with India—provided the dialogue focuses on the Kashmir issue, according to The Express Tribune.
Sharif made the offer during a visit to the Kamra air base, where he addressed Pakistan Air Force (PAF) personnel and acknowledged their readiness in the face of Indian strikes. He emphasized that Pakistan seeks peace, but talks must be “conditional” and revolve around Kashmir.
“Pakistan was willing to hold talks to achieve peace, but it had certain conditions,” Sharif said, urging India to come forward for dialogue on Kashmir, as per The Express Tribune.
However, India has firmly maintained its position that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of the country. In a clear message following Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s longstanding policy that any talks with Pakistan will be limited to terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“I would also like to tell the global community that our stated policy has been: if there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on terrorism; and if there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK),” Modi said in a national address.
He also warned Pakistan of dire consequences if it continued supporting terror networks.
“The way the Pakistani army and the Pakistan government are encouraging terrorism, it will destroy Pakistan one day. If Pakistan wants to survive, it will have to destroy its terror infrastructure. There is no other way to peace,” Modi declared.
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors escalated after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people and injured several others. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, targeting terror bases operated by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). The Indian Armed Forces eliminated over 100 terrorists and inflicted major damage to enemy infrastructure.
Following the Indian strike, Pakistan responded with cross-border shelling and drone incursions along the Line of Control (LoC) and J&K regions. India countered with a coordinated assault, damaging radar systems, communication hubs, and airfields in Pakistan.
The situation de-escalated slightly after both countries reportedly reached an understanding on cessation of hostilities on May 10.