Pakistan Proposes Bilateral Talks with India in Neutral Country, Seeks Dialogue on Four Key Issues

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, May 24, 2025, Kolkata : Pakistan has expressed its willingness to engage in bilateral talks with India in a neutral country, as stated by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif during a press interaction on Wednesday. Despite longstanding tensions and India's consistent position that dialogue and terrorism cannot go hand in hand, Pakistan is proposing negotiations on four key issues: Kashmir, water, trade, and terrorism.

Sharif underscored that Pakistan remains open to dialogue, proposing Saudi Arabia as a mutually agreeable venue. While he acknowledged that India is unlikely to agree to China as the host country, he also mentioned the United Kingdom as another possible alternative. According to Sharif, Pakistan will press for discussions on all four topics, even if India seeks to focus solely on terrorism.

The topic of water sharing is particularly sensitive following India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty after the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgaon. Following the success of Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on May 12 and firmly reiterated the government’s position, stating, “Water and blood cannot flow together.”

Prime Minister Sharif also commented on the internal military leadership of Pakistan, revealing that his decision to promote Army Chief General Asim Munir to the rank of Field Marshal was taken after consultations with his grandfather, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The announcement adds a domestic dimension to Pakistan’s evolving regional strategy.

While the prospect of talks signals an interest in reducing hostilities, New Delhi has yet to respond to Islamabad’s latest overture, maintaining its firm stance against initiating dialogue under the shadow of terrorism.