News
May 30, 2025
PM Urges India to Engage in Meaningful Dialogue for Peace at Trilateral Summit
Baku: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has once again called on India to engage in a "meaningful and immediate" dialogue to resolve critical regional issues, including Kashmir, water distribution, and terrorism.
“We must sit together and talk for the sake of peace… There are issues that demand immediate attention and must be addressed through dialogue,” the premier said while addressing the Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit alongside presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ilham Aliyev.
The meeting comes as the premier continued his four-nation tour to express gratitude to Turkey, Iran, and Azerbaijan for supporting Pakistan during the recent conflict against India.
Earlier, the PM concluded his two-day bilateral visit to Iran and departed for Azerbaijan. Following his visits to Turkiye, Iran, and Azerbaijan, he will proceed to Tajikistan.
Addressing the summit, Shehbaz underscored Pakistan's continued stress on regional peace, saying: “We desired peace yesterday, we desire peace today, and we will continue to desire peace in the future.”
PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan seeks a resolution to the Kashmir issue in line with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. He added that Pakistan is also open to talks with India on counterterrorism, if New Delhi demonstrates seriousness.
The prime minister referred to the recent aggression of India and said that with Allah Almighty’s infinite blessings and kindness, with the support of the people of Pakistan and friendly countries, and a resolute response from the armed forces, the country emerged victorious.
He noted that unfortunately India tried to weaponize the Indus Waters Treaty which served as a lifeline for the 240 million population of Pakistan that used the water for agriculture, drinking and other purposes.
“It is most unfortunate that India tried to threaten to stop the flow of water into Pakistan. This is not possible, this is never possible, and will not be possible. We are making proper arrangements to ensure that India never ever does it,” he emphatically maintained.
“We are the biggest victim of terrorism around the globe and lost 90,000 valuable lives and suffered $150 billion worth of economic losses over the last many decades. There can be no bigger manifestation of our commitment and intention to beat this menace for all times to come,” he added.
If India showed serious and honest cooperation, he said Pakistan would be willing to discuss all the issues, including promotion of trade, on the negotiation table.
The prime minister also appreciated the role of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir who led the armed forces with great bravery and the highest level of professional acumen while the entire nation was standing behind them.
The premier said that during the conflict with India, he found the Field Marshal as ‘God-fearing, fearless, firm with iron resolve, patience and fortitude to face that aggression.’
He reiterated that during the recent conflict, India failed to bring out any credible evidence against Pakistan and rejected its sincere offer for a neutral and transparent investigation into the so-called Pahalagam incident by any international body.
The prime minister said that during their previous trilateral format, the three countries held very fruitful discussions on the issues of mutual interests and hoped that their current session in Lachin city would take their cooperation to new heights, consonance with the wishes and desires of the people of the three countries.
He said that it would be no surprise to anyone that Pakistan, Turkiye and Azerbaijan were bound together with historical, cultural and spiritual ties spanning over centuries.
This historic friendship was strengthened with the passage of time and they stood together with each other whether it was Nagorno-Karabakh, Northern Cyprus, or Kashmir issues, he opined.
He said that it was natural that their people were bound together with love and passion, supporting their common objectives. The people had given them their support with outpouring of love and affection.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, in his remarks, said that the three countries were united on the basis of their common and shared history, culture and religion.
He said Azerbaijan wanted to extend its cooperation through joint ventures and envisaged $2 billion investment in Pakistan’s economy with specific development projects.
'Mutual trust'
Turkiye President Erdogan, in his speech, congratulated Azerbaijan on its Independence Day and said that the three brotherly countries were bonded together with mutual trust and confidence.
Their ties were being strengthened and they were striving to translate their trilateral relationship into strategic cooperation, he added.
He hoped that the region would become the focus of peace, stability and prosperity.
Referring to the recent visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Istanbul, President Erdogan said that they discussed the scope of a high-level strategic council and historic ties.
He congratulated the prime minister for the prudent and wise approach he took during the conflict with India and said the ceasefire had ended tensions between the two countries. He reiterated Turkiye’s contribution towards securing a permanent peace.
President Erdogan further underscored the different challenges faced by the world ranging from security threats to economic meltdown and stressed the need for joint projects and cooperation among the three countries in trade facilitation, investment promotion and digital formation.
The premier arrived in Lachin, Azerbaijan, a day earlier to attend the Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit, the third stop on a five-day tour aimed at extending gratitude to friendly nations for supporting Pakistan during the recent military conflict with India. - The News
Courtesy The News
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