\u2018Ready to talk with India,\u2019
\n Tehran
\nPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed his willingness to talk with India to resolve ongoing disputes between the two countries, including the Kashmir issue and water security, during his visit to Iran.
\nThe PM is currently on a four-nation tour to friendly countries, where he will express his gratitude for supporting Pakistan during the recent military escalation with India.
\nEarlier on Monday, PM Shehbaz was received Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at Saadabad Palace in the Iranian capital, where he received a guard of honour.
\nAddressing a joint press conference with Iranian President Masood Pezeshkian, PM Shehbaz said that the two countries\u2019 delegations had a \u201cvery productive and useful meeting \u2026 which covered all areas of our mutual interests and cooperation\u201d.
\n\u201cThere was total agreement that our two brotherly and neighbourly countries must enhance our cooperation in the field of trade, investments, commerce, in fact, every walk of life,\u201d he said.
\nThe prime minister said that he thanked Pezeshkian for his support during the military conflict with India and emphasised that both nations have deep-rooted cultural ties and historical relations, adding that they decided to turn these relations into a \u201cvery productive cooperation in various fields of life\u201d.
\n\u201cMy dear brother, I dearly appreciate your sense of concern and brotherly feelings for the people of Pakistan and your ardent desire that this crisis comes to a grinding halt before it, God forbid, escalates,\u201d Shehbaz said, addressing the Iranian president.
\nThe PM also lauded Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for visiting Pakistan during the military escalation, calling him an \u201coutstanding diplomat\u201d and stating that they had a \u201cheart to heart discussion\u201d.
\n\u201cPakistan came out of this conflict victorious \u2026 through our brave actions by our outstanding armed forces,\u201d Shehbaz said.
\n\u201cWe wanted peace, we want peace and we will work for peace in the region through talks on the table and resolve our outstanding issues, including the Kashmir problem, according to the resolutions passed by the [United Nations] Security Council \u2026 and even by Indian Lok Sabha (parliament) back in 1954,\u201d he added, speaking about when then-prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru committed to a plebiscite in the disputed territory.
\n\u201cWe are ready to talk, for the sake of peace on water issues with our neighbour,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe are ready to talk to promote trade and also, counter-terrorism if they\u2019re serious.
\n\u201cBut if they choose to remain aggressors, then we shall defend our territory \u2026 like we have done a few days ago,\u201d he added. \u201cBut if they accept my offer of peace, then we will show that we really want peace, seriously and sincerely.\u201d
\nLater on Monday, the PM visited Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to PTV News.
\n\u201cThe Prime Minister briefed [Khamenei] about recent conflict with India and \u2026 profusely thanked [the] leadership of Iran for supporting Pakistan against Indian aggression,\u201d the broadcaster wrote in a post on X. \u201cThe Prime Minister underlined that Pakistan always desired that peace could prevail in the region, leading to economic development and prosperity.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018Ready to talk with India,\u2019 Tehran Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed his willingness to talk with India to resolve ongoing disputes between the two countries, including the Kashmir issue and water security, during his visit to Iran. The PM is currently on a four-nation tour to friendly countries, where he will express his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":480940,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-480920","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n