Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif says ready to talk to India on Kashmir, water dispute, terrorism

However, New Delhi has already made it clear that it will talk to Islamabad only to discuss the return of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and cross-border terrorism.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed his inclination for talks with India to resolve all the issues between the two countries, including terrorism, Kashmir, water disputes and trade, reported PTI and Dawn.

The remarks were made during Sharif’s visit to Iran, where he addressed a joint press briefing with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian.

"We want to resolve all disputes, including the Kashmir issue and the water issue, through negotiations and are also ready to talk to our neighbour on trade and counter-terrorism,” he said.

Sharif further said that Pakistan is ready to engage in peace talks with India in the “interest of regional peace”, and if the offer is accepted, they will show that they “really want peace”.

Sharif is currently on a four-nation visit.

However, New Delhi has already made it clear that it will talk to Islamabad only to discuss the return of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and cross-border terrorism.

Earlier this month, external affairs minister S Jaishankar had said that PM Modi has made India's position very clear that any talks with Pakistan will be strictly bilateral and only focus on terrorism and on Pakistan vacating illegally occupied Indian territory in Pak-occupied Kashmir.

On Monday, during a rally in Bhuj, Gujarat, PM Modi said that if Pakistan’s citizens do not choose peace, they would face the wrath of the Indian Army.

"If you want a happy and peaceful life, eat bread or else there is a bullet...I want to ask what did it even gain," the PM said while addressing a rally at Bhuj.

The tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours had escalated recently after terrorists killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam on April 22. India responded to the dastardly act on May 7 by targeting terror hubs in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor. Pakistan attempted to retaliate in the next few days. However, Indian armed forces successfully thwarted Islamabad’s attempts.