PM takes national leaders into confidence on ceasefire

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Saturday that Pakistan had agreed to ceasefire with India under a strategic decision in favour of regional peace and stability.

In a message shared on the social media platform X, he said: “We have made this decision in the interest of lasting peace and stability in the region.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked US President Donald Trump for facilitating ceasefire and playing proactive role for peace in the region. “We thank President Trump for his leadership and proactive role for peace in the region,” Shehbaz wrote on ‘X’.

He said Pakistan values all efforts made to uphold security and cooperation in the region, especially those undertaken by the United States. He said: “We appreciate the United States for its positive role in supporting our goals for regional harmony.”

The PM particularly acknowledged the contributions of Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He praised their continuous engagement and commitment to fostering diplomatic channels and maintaining peace in a region that has witnessed volatility and unrest in recent times.

Highlighting Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful coexistence, PM Shehbaz stressed that constructive international engagement is essential for sustainable development, conflict resolution, and regional progress. He noted that such diplomatic partnerships demonstrate the global community’s shared responsibility in promoting peace.

“Pakistan believes this marks a new beginning in the resolution of issues that have plagued the region and prevented its journey toward peace, prosperity and stability,” Shehbaz Sharif observed.

Earlier, PM Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday the military had given “a befitting response” to India. “Today, we have given India a befitting response and avenged the blood of innocent lives,” he said in a statement issued by his office, after speaking with all political parties.

Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz Sharif called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Saturday and briefed him about the Indian aggression and effective response being given to India by Pakistan in the form of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar were also present.

President Zardari lauded the exceptional professionalism and bravery of the armed forces of the country for giving a befitting response to Indian unprovoked aggression and missile attacks. He reaffirmed that Pakistan, as a responsible and peace-loving nation, had demonstrated considerable restraint in the face of Indian provocations. He regretted that continued Indian belligerence had left Pakistan with no option but to respond decisively in defence of its sovereignty and to protect its citizens.

Earlier on Saturday, PM Shehbaz Sharif held telephonic conversations with key political leaders to brief them on Pakistan’s response to recent Indian aggression before the ceasefire came into effect.

According to Geo News, the prime minister contacted Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQMP) Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, Balochistan Awami Party’s Khalid Magsi, and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s Chaudhry Salik Hussain.

PM Shehbaz took them into confidence regarding the retaliatory measures taken by Pakistan following a series of Indian missile and drone strikes that he said targeted innocent civilians and critical installations, including Nur Khan airbase.

“Alhamdulillah, Pakistan’s armed forces gave a befitting reply in a well-coordinated manner,” he said. The PM said India refused to accept a proposal for an impartial investigation into the Pahalgam incident, choosing instead to escalate hostilities. “This morning again, India launched missile attacks on Nur Khan airbase and other locations,” he said, adding that innocent civilians had been deliberately targeted.

In his message to the nation and political leadership, the PM said: “Today, we have avenged the blood of innocent citizens with a crushing response to India. I congratulate the entire nation and our political leadership on the success of this operation. We are proud of our armed forces.”

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari paid tribute to PM for exemplary leadership of the country and nation in the recent tension. “We salute the professionalism and determination of the Pakistan Army for giving a befitting reply to Indian aggression,” he said, adding that the entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan armed forces to protect national integrity.

Separately, in a conversation with Geo News on Saturday, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari described the declaration of a ceasefire a great success for Pakistan. “For three days, we were just defending ourselves; but after last night’s missile attack, when Pakistan launched its operation and went into India and carried out its counter-attack, India agreed to a ceasefire and talks. This is a great success for the people and forces of Pakistan,” he said.

Bilawal said “we are proud of our forces for responding to India with courage and bravery”. He said the Pakistan Air Force had created history and shot down five Indian aircraft.

He said “we need to convince India about an impartial and international enquiry into terrorist attack in Occupied Kashmir”.

Also, on the social media platform ‘X’, Bilawal said Pakistan had consistently pursued dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable path to peace. “War, violence and aggression are never the answer,” he stated. The PPP chairman said that “now that both India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire and dialogue, we welcome this as a victory for diplomacy.

“We appreciate the role of USA, KSA and all countries involved in achieving this historic milestone,” he added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram highly praised the brave armed forces, particularly the Pakistan Air Force, backed by a resolute nation, for their befitting and decisive response that brought the rogue India to its knees.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali said Pakistan gave a timely and forceful response to the cunning enemy.

In a statement on the social media, he said the ceasefire in Pakistan and India is welcome; such steps should be taken so that such incidents did not occur in future.

He said if a ceasefire could be reached with India, there should be a ‘political ceasefire’ with the PTI as well. He said the PTI founder is the leader of the largest party of the country, but he is in jail currently. He regretted that the party leadership and workers could not meet the party founder. “We want to be strong and certain in this national solidarity,” he added.

Separately, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan reacted to the ceasefire announcement by Pakistan and India, and said that due to a fake government, imposed on the country, India kept attacking Pakistan in the air all night and India was not given a befitting reply.

“India would have been given a prompt and strong reply which can never be forgotten. The imposed cowardly government waited for four days before responding. Due to this wait, our most precious lives have been lost, the blood of which is on the hands of Shehbaz Sharif and this puppet government,” he charged.

He reiterated his demand for the release of incarcerated party founder chairman Imran Khan from Adiala Jail.

Omar Ayub telephonically contacted the family of martyred Squadron Leader Usman Yousuf, who was martyred in an Indian attack on a PAF airbase near Hyderabad. Omar Ayub contacted Taimur Yousuf, the martyred brother over the phone to pay tribute to the squadron leader.