PM Shehbaz thanks China for strong, steadfast support to Pakistan

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday thanked Chinese Premier Li Qiang for endorsing Islamabad’s call for a credible and transparent international investigation into the April 22 attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which left 26 people dead.

The prime minister made the remarks during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong at the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad, where he also expressed gratitude to China for its consistent support amid escalating regional tensions.

He conveyed his best wishes to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li, and appreciated Beijing’s understanding of Pakistan’s principled stance on India’s recent actions.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Saturday, described the Pahalgam attack as another example of the ongoing blame game, stating that Pakistan is open to any “neutral and transparent” investigation into the incident in IIOJK.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms. He noted that as a frontline state in the global war on terror, Pakistan had sacrificed over 90,000 lives and suffered economic losses exceeding $152 billion in pursuit of peace and security for the region and the world.

He warned that India’s recent aggressive posturing risks diverting Pakistan’s focus from critical counterterrorism operations against groups such as IS-KP, TTP, and BLA, militant networks operating from Afghan territory.

Sharif also condemned what he termed India’s “water aggression,” describing New Delhi’s reported efforts to weaponize water resources as a violation of the Indus Waters Treaty. “No party has the right to unilaterally deviate from international agreements,” he said, calling such actions a serious breach of trust and a threat to regional stability.

The prime minister stressed that a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is essential for lasting peace in South Asia. “Without resolving the Kashmir issue, the region cannot achieve sustainable peace,” he added.

Ambassador Jiang thanked the prime minister for clearly outlining Pakistan’s perspective and reiterated China’s support for peace and stability in South Asia. He affirmed that Beijing shares Islamabad’s vision for a peaceful region and will continue to stand by Pakistan on all core issues.