Shehbaz says India can never be a ‘regional cop’

ISLAMABAD/PASROOR: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday said India’s dream of acting as ‘a cop in the region’ had been shattered, as he asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to check his actions.

Addressing Modi, Shehbaz warned him against violating the Indus Waters Treaty and repeated the earlier offer to hold an impartial investigation into the Pahalgam attack.

He was addressing the troops during his visit to the Pasroor Cantt located along the Working Boundary.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir accompanied him during the visit.

The prime minister said Pakistan stood for regional peace, not acting as a cop. He said the Modi government opted for attacking Pakistan cowardly instead of going for investigating the Pahalgam through an international commission.

According to the prime minister, the offer still stands so that everything can be made clear.

TERRORISM AND INDIAN CONNECTION

Shehbaz said Modi should keep his sermons to himself and the TTP, BLA and other terrorist outfits were clearly linked to India.

He said the Pakistani armed forces fighting the scourge of terrorism valiantly and they proved himself in the conventional warfare as well in the face of Indian aggression.

“Pakistan stands for peace. We want peace and development,” the prime minister stressed. At the same time, he said Pakistan’s desire for peace should not be equated with weakness.    

DON’T EVER EVEN THINK OF REPEATING AGGRESSION

Shehbaz warned Modi that he shouldn’t even think of repeating the Indian aggression and said “we are ready for peace and also war”. Stop continuing duping the Indians, he advised.

Pakistan would have destroyed Baglihar dams and water reservoirs in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, if any serious damage was caused to the Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project.     

Shehbaz said Pakistan would not allow India to shy away from a comprehensive dialogue process.

He was referring to the fact that Islamabad wants issues like the Kashmir dispute and terrorism to be on agenda in any future talks with New Delhi.

The top US officials have said that Washington wants to see Pakistan and India holding talks at a neutral venue.   

SOVEREIGNTY TO BE DEFENDED COME WHAT MAY

Separately, Shehbaz yet again made it clear that Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would be defended at every cost.

It was the third telephonic contact between Shehbaz and Guterres during the last two weeks amid the post-Pahalgam attack Indian aggression against Pakistan.

The prime minister appreciated the leadership and diplomatic efforts made by the UN secretary general to tackle the tense developments in South Asia.

Pakistan had agreed to implement ceasefire in the wider interest of peace in the region, Shehbaz noted.

INDIAN PROVOCATION

During the telephonic conversation, he reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to promote peace in South Asia.

However, the prime minister stressed the need for world community to take notice of the false allegations levelled by India and the naked aggression against Pakistan.

Shehbaz also expressed his concerns over the Indian leadership’s provocative statements. He called this trend a serious threat to peace and security in South Asia.

FOCUS ON KASHMIR

Shehbaz reminded Guterres that a just solution to the Kashmir dispute according to the UN Security Council resolutions was essential for regional peace. For this purpose, he asked the UN chief to play his role to achieve the goal.

ENSURING WORLD PEACE IS A DUTY

Expressing his views, Guterres said making efforts for ensuring world peace was duty. “The world needs it,” he remarked.

He offered his condolences over the loss of innocent civilians and welcomed the decision to observe ceasefire.

The UN chief also promised to ensure regular contacts so that regional peace could be sustained.