Shehbaz explains why India would be loath to initiate another attack

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has outlined three reasons why he believes India will not initiate another attack against Pakistan.

The prime minister was speaking at an exclusive high tea hosted by Pakistan’s senior leadership on Monday for prominent media representatives at the Prime Minister House. The event was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Political Affairs Minister Rana Sanaullah, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Culture Huzaifa Rehman.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted Pakistan’s recent victory in the military conflict with India, describing it as a moment of complete vindication that has fundamentally settled the regional balance of power. He also emphasised how this decisive outcome has not only avenged past grievances dating back to 1971 but also left India’s leadership in a state of serious embarrassment and humiliation. “Modi is now known as an established troublemaker”, he said.

The PM also especially mentioned China’s role in the recent military conflict, saying, “I can say with complete confidence that China is Pakistan’s most trusted ally outside of the Muslim world. Its support is vital for Pakistan’s security as well as maintaining a balance of power in the region.”

Moving to why he believes India will not initiate another attack, the prime minister said that the first pillar rests on international support and transparency. PM Shehbaz believes Pakistan’s commitment to the international investigation of the Pahalgam attack has garnered global backing. “We have consistently offered even to the Americans to participate in an international investigation to probe India’s allegations”, he said, adding that this transparent approach had won international confidence.

The second factor is what the Pakistani leadership calls ‘the Trump factor’, expressing particular optimism about US President Trump’s role as a peace facilitator in the recent conflict. “Trump has proudly claimed credit for playing a decisive role in achieving the ceasefire, and this he sees as a big victory for himself”, the PM said. “While there is not much progress on Ukraine and Gaza, the Pakistan-India crisis was much easier to de-escalate through diplomacy. President Trump grabbed this opportunity to be known as a peacemaker, and we’re confident he won’t let this great achievement [go to waste]. Trump is fundamentally a man of peace, not war.”

The third pillar involves economic realities, with Pakistani officials pointing to India’s economic vulnerabilities, noting that: “Given the economic progress India claims to have made, war would be a complete disaster for them. The destruction would be India’s to bear; we’re already in a struggling phase, so we’re prepared for any scenario.”

The Pakistani leadership expressed readiness for talks at neutral venues on four critical areas: Kashmir resolution, discussion on the Indus Waters Treaty, trade normalisation and counterterrorism cooperation.

“If Modi stops his warmongering, we’re prepared for serious counterterrorism discussions”, PM Shehbaz stated. He also speculated about Modi’s mental health. The country’s leadership proudly highlighted recent domestic achievements, particularly emphasising their spotless governance record. “In our one year and three months in government, there hasn’t been a single case or even allegation of corruption”, PM Shehbaz declared.

He said the International Monetary Fund’s satisfaction with Pakistan’s progress serves as external validation of these domestic successes, with the IMF expressing willingness to fund Pakistan’s revenue enhancement enforcement efforts.

The Pakistani leadership also spoke enthusiastically about their recent diplomatic successes, particularly highlighting the warm reception received during recent visits to Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan.

In a move reflecting political maturity and long-term thinking, the leadership revealed their proactive outreach to opposition parties. “This is a time when public sentiments are aligned, allowing us to initiate long-term plans supporting our broader economic agenda”, the PM explained.

The briefing concluded with the Pakistani leadership expressing their commitment to advancing national interests through improved trade relations with the US, recognising the strategic importance of tariff discussions in strengthening Pakistan’s economic position.The overall tone of the interaction reflected the leadership’s confidence in Pakistan’s strategic position and tangible achievements in governance and diplomacy.