Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to achieving sustainable peace and stability in South Asia, amidst rising tensions with India. The statement came during a meeting with Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, at the Prime Minister House.

During the discussion, Prime Minister Sharif extended warm wishes to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and expressed gratitude for the UAE’s consistent support to Pakistan. He highlighted the enduring, fraternal ties between the two nations.

Sharif addressed the recent developments in South Asia following the Pahalgam incident, condemning terrorism and emphasizing Pakistan’s longstanding battle against it. He noted Pakistan’s sacrifices, citing 90,000 casualties and over USD 152 billion in economic losses, attributing these challenges to threats from its western front.

The Prime Minister rejected India’s accusations linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident, calling them baseless and unsupported by evidence. He proposed a credible, transparent international investigation to clarify the matter.

Sharif stressed that his government remained focused on maintaining economic stability, achieved with the assistance of allies like the UAE. He assured that Pakistan would not engage in actions that could jeopardize regional peace.

The Prime Minister urged nations, including the UAE, to encourage India to de-escalate and reduce tensions. The UAE Ambassador expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s position and affirmed the UAE’s collaboration with Pakistan to sustain regional peace and security.