Pahalgam terror attack: Nawaz Sharif advises brother Shehbaz to avoid war with India

Nawaz Sharif urges Shehbaz Sharif to prioritize diplomacy over conflict.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has advised his brother, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, against engaging in a military conflict with India amidst escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.

According to a PML-N source quoted by the Pakistani news outlet The Tribune, Nawaz highlighted the significance of diplomacy and advised the government to utilise all available diplomatic avenues to restore peace, instead of resorting to an aggressive approach.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed Nawaz on Sunday regarding the recent decisions made by Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) following India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

The suspension came after a terror strike in Kashmir’s Pahalgam left 26 people, most of them tourists, dead, worsening the tensions. During their meeting at the family residence in Jati Umrah, Shehbaz discussed the country's military preparedness and the government’s readiness to respond to potential aggression. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was also present during the discussion.

In the wake of these developments, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that any Indian attack could lead to an "all-out war." Speaking to Sky News, Asif stressed the gravity of the situation, noting that the world should be concerned about the possibility of a full-scale conflict in the region.

The tension erupted after a deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam on April 22, where 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national were killed by terrorists, with reports suggesting that some of the perpetrators were linked to Pakistan. The violence has heightened fears of further escalation.