Shehbaz Sharif Urges US to Mediate Talks with India

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appealed to former US President Donald Trump to help facilitate peace talks between India and Pakistan. He made this request during an event at the US embassy in Islamabad. Sharif praised Trump for what he called a helpful role in calming tensions with India in the past. However, India has previously denied any third-party involvement in its talks with Pakistan. According to ANI, Sharif asked Washington to help start a full-fledged dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Repeating Bilawal’s Praise for Trump

Sharif echoed a similar statement made earlier by former Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. Bhutto had claimed Trump played a big part in reducing hostilities between the two countries. Bhutto had said, “On 10 different occasions, he has taken credit for facilitating the ceasefire between India and Pakistan – and rightly so. He deserves that credit because it was his efforts that helped make the ceasefire possible. So, if the US is willing to help Pakistan in maintaining this ceasefire, it is reasonable to expect that an American role in arranging a comprehensive dialogue would also be beneficial for us.”

India Rejects Mediation, Cites Ongoing Threats

However, India has made its stance clear. It does not support third-party mediation, especially on sensitive issues like Kashmir.

While visiting the US, a delegation of Indian MPs led by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor responded strongly to Sharif’s remarks. This team is one of seven sent by the Indian government under the initiative titled Operation Sindoor.

Tharoor stated, “I think the US has understood for some time now that India has a very clear position that there will be no talks with a gun pointed at our head… The problem is that we will not deal with people who are pointing a gun at our heads.”

Tharoor Uses Sharp Analogy to Explain India’s Stand

Tharoor further explained India’s reasoning with a vivid metaphor. He said, “If your neighbour unleashes his Rottweilers to bite your children and in fact to do worse to your children, and then says, let’s talk… You’re not going to talk to people who are pointing guns at your temples. It’s not going to happen.”

Pakistan’s Victim Card Dismissed

Tharoor also criticised Pakistan’s claim that it was also a victim of terrorism. He questioned the source of the problem.

He added, “This (Pakistan) delegation is going around saying we are also victims of terrorism… Whose fault is that? As Hillary Clinton famously said 10 years ago: You can’t breed vipers in your backyard and expect them to bite only your neighbours.”

Tharoor blamed Pakistan’s own policies for its internal terror issues. He said the country must reflect deeply before denying responsibility and blaming others.

Tejasvi Surya Also Slams Pakistan’s Claims

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, also part of the Indian delegation, criticised Pakistan’s peace claims. He said it was ironic for Islamabad to talk about peace while encouraging conflict. He remarked, “Bhutto has been calling his delegation a peace delegation, and it is quite ironic… It’s like the Devil quoting from the scriptures.”

Surya also mocked Pakistan’s military and leadership, saying, “For a country that is trying to create fake heroes by promoting failed generals to field marshal, they don’t know what true leaders look like.”

He added, “Pakistan has been surviving on cheap Chinese imports, including military hardware, which spectacularly failed on the battlefield… So perhaps it is hard for them to digest high-quality, high-calibre military hardware as well as strong democratic leadership on the other side of the border.”