Pakistan says it wants peace with India, ready for talks on all issues including Kashmir

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said his country wants peace with India and is ready to resolve all outstanding issues -- including the Kashmir dispute -- through dialogue, stressing that further escalation in the region must be avoided.

“We wanted peace. We want peace and we will work for peace in the region through talks on the table and resolve our outstanding issues including the Kashmir problem according to the United Nations Security Council resolutions, which were acknowledged even by the Indian Lok Sabha when Nehru was the prime minister of India,” he was quoted as saying by state-run wire service APP.

Speaking alongside Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the Sa’dabad Palace after delegation-level talks, the Pakistani premier said he had also thanked Iran for its support during the recent tensions in South Asia.

“I deeply appreciate your sense of concern and brotherly feelings for the people of Pakistan and your ardent desire that this crisis comes to a grinding halt instead of escalating further,” Shehbaz said, referring to Iran’s outreach during the period.

The prime minister stressed that while Pakistan emerged victorious from the latest standoff with India — crediting the armed forces and people for their resilience — Islamabad remained committed to peace.

“We are ready to talk for the sake of peace on different issues including water, trade and also counter terrorism if India is serious,” he said, but cautioned that if India remained aggressive, Pakistan would defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Pezeshkian welcomed the ceasefire between Pakistan and India and underlined that resolving issues through dialogue was essential for regional stability.

Strengthening Pakistan-Iran ties

Beyond India-Pakistan relations, Shehbaz and Pezeshkian held wide-ranging discussions aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, investment and regional security.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hold a joint press conference in Tehran on Monday.@GovtofPakistan/X

“There was total agreement that the two brotherly neighboring countries must enhance cooperation in diverse fields including trade, investment and economy,” the prime minister said.

He described the talks as “productive and useful,” adding that both sides agreed to transform their long-standing cultural and historical ties into concrete partnerships across multiple sectors.

The two sides also discussed border security, economic linkages, and regional challenges, including the situation in Palestine.
“We believe that sustaining security and maintaining friendly and peaceful relations with neighboring countries is in the interest of the two countries,” the Iranian president said.

Meeting with Iran’s supreme leader

Following his talks with the Iranian president, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also paid a courtesy call on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Accompanied by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and key ministers, Shehbaz conveyed his deep respect for the Supreme Leader, calling him an iconic figure in the Muslim world.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif meets Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Monday.PID

During the meeting, the prime minister briefed Ayatollah Khamenei on Pakistan’s recent tensions with India and expressed gratitude for Iran’s support against Indian aggression. He reiterated Pakistan’s desire for peace in the region and shared his government’s commitment to elevating strategic cooperation with Iran.

He also praised Iran’s leadership for its approach to nuclear negotiations with the United States and hoped a constructive agreement would be reached to ensure regional stability.

In response, the Supreme Leader appreciated Shehbaz’s efforts to promote peace and strengthen Pakistan-Iran ties, and offered prayers for the prosperity and development of Pakistan.