Pakistan PM Suggests Saudi Arabia as Neutral Venue for Future Talks with India

TDT | Manama

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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has proposed Saudi Arabia as a potential neutral ground for future peace talks between Pakistan and India, expressing cautious optimism for easing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Speaking during a closed-door media briefing at the Prime Minister’s House, Shehbaz revealed that ongoing communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) from both countries had helped reduce friction. He noted that these military-level exchanges could pave the way for formal diplomatic engagement.

“If talks progress, Pakistan’s delegation will be led by the National Security Adviser,” the Prime Minister confirmed.

Shehbaz ruled out China as a venue for dialogue, citing India's opposition, and instead proposed Saudi Arabia as a location that could be mutually acceptable. He emphasized that any future negotiations would address four critical areas: Kashmir, water rights, trade relations, and counterterrorism.

In a related political development, the Prime Minister also confirmed that he consulted with PML-N leader and former premier Nawaz Sharif before conferring the symbolic rank of field marshal upon Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir. Shehbaz described the decision as a "consulted one," reflecting the leadership’s consensus-based approach to high-level appointments.

On the domestic front, Shehbaz chaired a meeting focused on affordable housing initiatives. Stressing the sector’s potential to boost employment and economic growth, the Prime Minister reviewed updates on the upcoming Condominium Act 2025 and proposed amendments to the Foreclosure Law. These reforms are aimed at improving access to housing loans and making low-cost housing more accessible to the public.

The developments underscore the Sharif administration’s dual focus on stabilizing regional diplomacy while addressing pressing socioeconomic issues at home.