Islamabad:

In light of the recent Pahargam attack and India’s decision to cease the Indus Waters Treaty, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has stepped in to counsel his brother, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on the necessity of a diplomatic strategy to mitigate the escalating crisis between the two nations.

After India’s suspension of the treaty following the Pahargam attacks, Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan from London to support his brother.

According to reports from Express Tribune, after discussing the National Security Committee’s decisions regarding the treaty’s suspension, Nawaz urged Shehbaz to seek diplomatic means to reduce tensions.

Nawaz Sharif emphasized that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led coalition should utilize all diplomatic channels to foster peace between the nuclear-armed rivals.

Earlier in 2023, he highlighted the significance of maintaining good relations with India, recalling that his government faced exile in 1999 due to its opposition to the Kargil War.

As reported by News International, Nawaz expressed frustration about the PML-N’s history of being exiled, questioning why his government was overthrown in 1993 and 1999 for opposing the war.

Nawaz was the Prime Minister when the government was toppled in a coup on October 12, 1999. Last year, he admitted that Pakistan had “violated” the agreement with India back in 1999.

“On May 28, 1998, we conducted five nuclear tests. Following that, Vajpayee came to us, and we reached an understanding. However, we breached that agreement… that was our mistake,” he stated.

The agreement in question was the “Lahore Declaration,” signed on February 21, 1999, in a bid to enhance peace and stability between India and Pakistan. Unfortunately, shortly after its signing, the Pakistani military infiltrated the Kargil districts of Jammu and Kashmir, triggering the Kargil War.