A week after India’s decisive military strikes under Operation Sindoor, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made a public appeal for peace talks with New Delhi. Addressing an event in Islamabad, Sharif emphasized the need to resolve long-standing disputes, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, stating that true peace in the region cannot be achieved without addressing these concerns.
Sharif’s comments come in the wake of Pakistan’s military setbacks during the May 7 Indian operation and the subsequent four-day cross-border conflict. India had launched precision strikes on terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, where 25 Indian civilians were killed in a targeted attack based on their religious identity.
While Sharif called for diplomacy, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a stark warning, describing Operation Sindoor as merely the beginning. “What you’ve seen is just a trailer,” Singh said while addressing personnel at the Bhuj Air Force Station in Gujarat. “The full picture will be revealed if necessary. Pakistan is under watch. If their behavior changes, good—if not, we will act with full force.”
Singh alleged that Pakistan is using funds from its $2.1 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan to support terrorist organizations like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. He further claimed that the Pakistan government intends to allocate Rs 14 crore to Jaish leader Masood Azhar, a UN-designated global terrorist.
According to Singh, India has called on the IMF to reconsider its aid to Pakistan due to the suspected misuse of funds to revive terror infrastructure, particularly in regions like Muridke and Bahawalpur.
Following the intense Operation Sindoor strikes, Pakistan attempted retaliation through missile and drone attacks, all of which were effectively neutralized by Indian defense systems. With rising international pressure and mounting economic strain, Pakistan sought U.S. intervention to de-escalate tensions. A ceasefire was brokered on May 10.
Despite the temporary truce, India maintains that Pakistan is still “on probation,” and any further provocation will meet with a harsher response. The situation continues to evolve as both countries weigh the cost of conflict and diplomacy.
