ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had a telephone conversation with the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani Thursday evening and discussed developments in South Asia after the Pahalgam incident.
During the telephone call, Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked the Amir for Qatar’s solidarity and support for Pakistan, which reflected the deep-rooted brotherly ties between the two countries.
While referring to recent developments in South Asia, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and underscored the nation’s sacrifices in the war against terror.
PM Shehbaz rejected India’s attempts to link Pakistan with the Pahalgam incident without any proof and reiterated his offer for a credible, transparent and neutral international investigation into the incident.
The Prime Minister expressed serious concerns over India’s weaponization of the waters of the Indus Basin, which he deemed unacceptable while emphasizing that water was the lifeline of the 240 million people of Pakistan.
Underscoring the hard-earned economic gains over the past one year, the Prime Minister stressed that Pakistan would gain no conceivable advantage by involving itself in any such incident at a time when it was on the path to economic stability.
The Amir of Qatar appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for peace in South Asia and said that Qatar wanted to work with Pakistan towards ensuring the de-escalation of the current crisis.
Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India have escalated since the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 tourists. India swiftly blamed Pakistan for the incident without presenting any credible evidence.
Pakistan has condemned the incident and denied involvement. Pakistan also offered a neutral, independent and transparent investigation into the Pahalgam incident. India has yet to respond to Pakistan’s offer for neutral probe.
The fallout has triggered a series of retaliatory diplomatic and strategic steps.
India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, cancelled visas for Pakistanis, and shut down the Wagah-Attari border crossing.
Pakistan responded by expelling Indian diplomats, threatening to suspend the Simla Agreement, suspending visas for Indian nationals—excluding Sikh pilgrims—and closing the main crossing from its side.
