India must choose hostility or good neighbourly ties: PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that Pakistan and India are neighbours bound to coexist, and India must decide whether to remain hostile or build good relations.

Addressing a packed hall of overseas Pakistanis in London, PM Shehbaz spoke on Pakistan's progress, global crises, and the nation's recent accomplishments.

"Any talks with India must be fair," he said and reminded the audience that Pakistan and India have fought four wars, costing billions of dollars.

"That money should have been spent on schools, hospitals, roads, and improving the lives of ordinary citizens," he said, stressing that ties with India cannot move forward without resolving the Kashmir issue.

"Billions of dollars spent on wars between Pakistan and India should be spent on the development and prosperity of people," he added, while stressing that: "Ceasefire [with India] has been reached. We now want peace".

The remarks are to be taken against the backdrop of the recent military conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in May following India's unprovoked missile attacks on targets within Pakistani territory in May 2025.

The Pakistan Army launched a retaliatory operation named Bunyan-um-Marsoos (Iron Wall) to counter the Indian aggression, which New Delhi branded as a response to the alleged Pakistani involvement in the attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir's (IIOJK) Pahalgam in April.

Both countries suffered losses of life and property while the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) downed six Indian fighter jets, including the expensive French aircraft, Rafale, while successfully defending the country's territorial integrity.

The 87-hour conflict, which raised fears of a nuclear war between the two countries, finally ended in a ceasefire brokered by the United States.

Addressing the event, premier vowed that the blood of millions of Kashmiris would not go in vain.

Turning to international crises, he spoke about Gaza, where more than 64,000 Palestinians have died, saying that the region is linked forever, whether people like it or not.

He once again emphasised that Pakistan wanted talks with India, but only on equal terms. Fairness and respect, he said, must guide any dialogue.

The PM also touched on Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, economy, and Pakistan's diplomatic relations during his address.

Reiterating Pakistan's stance that it had nothing to do with the Pahalgam incident, the premier recalled that the country had offered New Delhi a transparent investigation.

However, despite Islamabad's offer, New Delhi launched an attack on May 6 and martyred 54 people and mosques.

"Our air force shot down the enemy's planes. The enemy knew its fate within a few hours," he said.

He added that Pakistan's recent achievements have strengthened the country's global standing, a source of pride for all citizens.

Expanding on the contribution and significance of the Pakistani diaspora, the PM hailed them as "great ambassadors" of the country.

"You [overseas Pakistanis] have sent $38 billion to Pakistan," he said, while highlighting that the country's economy could not progress without the remittances sent by the Pakistani community abroad.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also addressed the event and termed the remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis as a "lifeline" for the country.

Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion, DPM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar lauded PM Shehbaz's team for working day and night to pull the country out of turmoil.

"Inflation has reached 5%, interest rates have reached 11%," Dar said.

Recalling that when the incumbent government came into power it was being said that the country would defualt, however, the administration stabilised the economy via strenuous hard work.

"Pakistan emerged diplomatically on the world map with a new identity," the DPM said, adding that the country gave a befitting reply to India in the May conflict.