ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called on the United States to facilitate a “comprehensive dialogue” between India and Pakistan, suggesting that US President Donald Trump play a mediating role. Speaking at an event hosted by the US embassy in Islamabad on Wednesday, Sharif praised Trump for what he claimed was a key role in de-escalating last month’s four-day military standoff between the two countries, which followed the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.
India has firmly denied any US involvement in halting hostilities, maintaining that its military response and subsequent ceasefire were unilateral and strategic.
Sharif described Trump as a leader who “stood against escalation and war,” and expressed hope that Washington could now steer the two nations toward sustained dialogue. Echoing this sentiment, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, credited Trump’s diplomacy with averting further conflict. Speaking from Washington, Bilawal added, “If the US can help maintain this ceasefire, its role in arranging broader talks would serve both countries well.”
These remarks have been met with skepticism in India, where foreign policy observers view Pakistan’s overture as an attempt to redirect attention from its alleged support for cross-border terrorism and reclaim diplomatic relevance. Many see Islamabad’s appeal to Trump’s deal-making reputation as a strategic move to internationalize the issue and bypass bilateral frameworks.
While Sharif’s call may appear to signal openness to dialogue, it raises questions about Pakistan’s sincerity—especially given its dismissal of the Simla Agreement, which emphasizes bilateral resolution of disputes. New Delhi has consistently opposed third-party mediation, insisting that meaningful talks can only take place when Pakistan addresses terrorism concerns directly and credibly.
