ISLAMABAD, Saturday, May 3, 2025 (WNP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace, saying the country had responded with restraint and responsibility to India’s provocative conduct following the Pahalgam incident.
Speaking during a meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye, Dr. Irfan Neziroglu, at the Prime Minister House, the premier said Pakistan condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and categorically rejected India’s attempts to link Pakistan with the Pahalgam incident.
He underscored that New Delhi had so far failed to present any credible evidence and was attempting to malign Pakistan without justification. “India has yet to respond to Pakistan’s proposal for a credible, transparent, and neutral international investigation into the Pahalgam incident,” he said, adding that Pakistan would fully cooperate with such an inquiry and would welcome Turkiye’s participation in it.
Highlighting Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to counter-terrorism, the prime minister noted that the country had suffered over 90,000 casualties and economic losses exceeding USD 152 billion in its decades-long fight against terrorism. He warned that India’s baseless allegations threatened to distract Pakistan from its core counter-terrorism objectives.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Sharif also conveyed warm greetings to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and recalled his recent visit to Ankara, where both leaders held wide-ranging discussions on enhancing bilateral ties. He expressed gratitude for President Erdogan’s unwavering support during the current regional tensions and his call for peace and stability in South Asia.
The prime minister stressed that Pakistan valued its deep-rooted and time-tested brotherly relationship with Turkiye and was focused on economic recovery and regional peace, which he said were interlinked.
Ambassador Neziroglu reaffirmed Turkiye’s solidarity with Pakistan and appreciated its measured stance in the ongoing crisis. He called for de-escalation and restraint from all parties to preserve peace and security in the region.
