ISLAMABAD: In a significant diplomatic engagement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephonic conversation with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss the evolving situation in South Asia. The call focused on regional peace and the recent escalation between Pakistan and India.
According to reports, Prime Minister Sharif appreciated the UN Secretary-General’s efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region and emphasized the importance of the recently agreed-upon ceasefire in the broader interest of regional stability. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs.
Sharif also urged the international community to take note of India's aggressive actions and reiterated that the resolution of the Kashmir dispute must be in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.
UN Secretary-General Guterres, during the call, expressed sorrow over the loss of precious lives and reaffirmed the UN's commitment to maintaining peace in the region, stressing the importance of continued dialogue.
NuThe conversation comes in the wake of rising hostilities following a terror attack on local tourists in Pahalgam on April 22, which India blamed on Pakistan. In response, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and ordered Pakistan’s diplomatic staff to leave by April 30, 2025.
In retaliation, Pakistan’s National Security Committee reduced the Indian diplomatic presence in Islamabad to 30 personnel.
On the night of May 6, military actions escalated between both countries. Subsequently, on May 10, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyān Mursas ("Iron Wall"), a large-scale retaliatory operation targeting multiple Indian territory.
A ceasefire agreement between the two nuclear-armed neighbors was announced later that evening on May 10, with U.S. President Donald Trump confirming the development via a post on X (formerly Twitter).
