ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday sought Saudi Arabia’s assistance in de-escalating heightened tensions with India over an attack in the disputed Kashmir region that killed 26 tourists last week, Sharif’s office said.
New Delhi has accused Pakistan of backing the deadliest attack in Indian-administered Kashmir since 2000. Islamabad denies it and has offered to participate in a credible international probe. The two nuclear-armed neighbors have since exchanged gunfire, diplomatic barbs, expelled each other’s citizens and shut border in a series of punitive measures against each other.
Top Pakistani leaders have reached out to senior officials in China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt and other countries, amid fears that India’s possible actions over the attack in Pahalgam may lead to a wider conflict in the region, and on Friday, Sharif met with Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki.
He shared Pakistan’s perspective on recent developments in South Asia after the Kashmir incident and said Pakistan had rendered great sacrifices in its counter-terrorism efforts over the years not only to protect itself but the entire world, rejecting the “baseless Indian accusations” linking Islamabad with the April 22 assault.
“The prime minister said it was inconceivable for Pakistan to act in an irresponsible manner to jeopardize its achievements and derail the country from the path of economic progress,” Sharif’s office said. “He urged brotherly countries, including Saudi Arabia, to impress upon India to de-escalate and defuse tensions. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire for peace and stability in South Asia.”
Pakistan is treading a long, tricky path to economic recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program since averting a default on its foreign debt obligations in 2023. Islamabad has reached out to countries in Central Asia and beyond to boost trade as economic indicators significantly improved in the South Asian country.
Public anger has swelled in India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to pursue the attackers “to the ends of the earth.” A Pakistani minister has said that Pakistan has “credible intelligence” that India is planning to attack it within days.
Since the attack, Pakistani and Indian troops have exchanged fire along their de facto border in Kashmir, driving tensions between both sides to their highest point in recent years. The disputed region is split between India and Pakistan and claimed by both in its entirety. The two countries have fought two wars and one limited conflict over the Himalayan territory.
During his conversation with the Saudi envoy, the Pakistan premier reiterated his call for a transparent and neutral international investigation into the April 22 incident.
“The Saudi ambassador thanked the prime minister for sharing his views on this important issue and said that Saudi Arabia wanted to work with Pakistan for peace and security in the region,” Sharif’s office said.
The United Nations (UN) has urged the arch-rivals to talk, while China, which shares its border with both India and Pakistan, along with other countries has called on both sides to “exercise restraint.”
