Pakistani PM seeks fair, peaceful resolution of Kashmir, water disputes with India

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday expressed the hope that Pakistan and India will peacefully resolve all outstanding issues, including the equitable distribution of water resources and the longstanding dispute over Jammu and Kashmir.

"We fully believe that the path of peaceful negotiations, in line with principles of justice, will be adopted to resolve the distribution of water resources and all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir," Sharif said in a televised address to the nation following a recently brokered ceasefire between the two countries.

His remarks came amid heightened tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary, which separates Pakistan's Punjab province from Indian-controlled Kashmir. The past week saw a series of cross-border skirmishes and aerial engagements, before a ceasefire took hold with support from international partners.

Sharif said Pakistan had exercised restraint in response to what he called "unprovoked aggression", but emphasized that the country's military actions were professional, limited in scope, and intended to safeguard national sovereignty.

"We responded in a language the enemy understood -- not to escalate conflict, but to preserve our dignity and territorial integrity," he stated.

"History will always remember how Pakistan acted with professionalism and discipline in defending itself," he said.

He accused India of using last month's deadly attack in Pahalgam in the Indian-controlled Kashmir -- where 26 people were killed by unidentified gunmen -- as a pretext to launch "an unjustified war" against Pakistan.

Reiterating Pakistan's earlier offer for an impartial investigation, he said, "Despite provocations, we kept the door for peace open."

He also praised Pakistan's military leadership and expressed gratitude to the country's political leadership for demonstrating rare consensus in the face of the crisis.

"In this moment of tension, our unity became our strength. We stood as one -- civilians and soldiers, political parties and institutions," he noted.

Sharif acknowledged the role of friendly countries in supporting de-escalation efforts and encouraging dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

In concluding remarks, the prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to peace, stressing that war serves no purpose and that dialogue, diplomacy, and mutual respect remain the only viable path to resolving disputes.