Islamabad, May 1, 2025: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed gratitude to Chinese Premier Li Qiang for endorsing Pakistan’s call for a credible and transparent international investigation into the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) that left 26 people dead.
During a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong at the Prime Minister’s Office, Sharif thanked Beijing for its consistent diplomatic support amid rising regional tensions and reiterated Pakistan’s principled stance on recent developments in the region.
He conveyed his best wishes to President Xi Jinping and Premier Li, commending China’s understanding of Islamabad’s concerns and commitment to regional peace and justice.
On Saturday, the Prime Minister had described the Pahalgam incident as yet another episode in India’s “blame game” narrative, asserting that Pakistan is open to any neutral and transparent investigation. “Only facts, not accusations, can guide the path to peace,” he said.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the Prime Minister’s Office reaffirmed Pakistan’s unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all forms, with Sharif noting that the country, as a frontline state in the global war on terror, has sacrificed over 90,000 lives and suffered $152 billion in economic losses.
He cautioned that India’s current aggressive military posturing risks undermining Pakistan’s ongoing counterterrorism operations against groups such as IS-KP, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) — many of which, he noted, operate from Afghan territory.
The prime minister also raised concerns over what he called India’s “water aggression,” accusing New Delhi of attempting to weaponize water resources in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty. “No country has the right to unilaterally violate international agreements,” he warned, calling such acts a serious breach of trust and a potential threat to regional stability.
Sharif reiterated that a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains central to achieving lasting peace in South Asia. “Without resolving Kashmir, sustainable peace in the region will remain elusive,” he stated.
Ambassador Jiang thanked the Prime Minister for articulating Pakistan’s viewpoint and reaffirmed China’s support for peace and stability in South Asia. He assured that Beijing stands with Islamabad on all its core concerns and will continue to work closely for a peaceful, stable, and cooperative regional environment.
