New Delhi: In an attempt to reduce the tension, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wants to start peace talks with India. The news was released on Thursday and followed the earlier ceasefire deal that stopped heavy fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Sharif made this statement after a period of trouble caused by an April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Of those who died in Baisaran Valley, there were 26 victims; among them were 25 Indians and 1 Nepalese. The Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba’s splinter group, The Resistance Front, said it was responsible.
On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, carrying out strikes on nine terrorist spots in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The air raid resulted in the removal of more than 100 insurgents and destruction of their infrastructure. Pakistan launched all drone and missile attacks against India, but India’s defensive systems successfully thwarted them. Troops from India launched attacks on military bases in several territories in Pakistan, resulting in much damage.
After a period of intense and unremitting fights lasting four days, both countries ended the warfare and stopped fighting on May 10, reports Reuters. However, India continues to impose economic and diplomatic sanctions on Pakistan, indicating that their differences remain unresolved. Despite the ceasefire, relations between the two nations are fragile since they do not trust each other.
On Thursday, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar gave a strong condition for any possible talks to take place. According to him, India will not negotiate with Pakistan until it destroys its terrorist networks and gets rid of them. He said that India will only focus on this matter when negotiating with Pakistan. He then added, “They know what’s needed,” emphasising a list given to Pakistan of militants expected to be extradited.
Sharif’s words about peace are an important change, but India wants to see a stronger move from Pakistan against terrorism first. At the moment, the region keeps a close eye on the situation, as there are still many obstacles on the way to stability.