Pak PM Shehbaz Expresses Hope for Meeting with Modi to Resolve Ongoing Crisis – Proposes Saudi Arabia as Neutral Venue

Pak PM Shehbaz Expresses Hope for Meeting with Modi to Resolve Ongoing Crisis – Proposes Saudi Arabia as Neutral Venue

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed hope for a possible meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, proposing Saudi Arabia as a “neutral” venue for talks on key bilateral issues. This was reported by Pakistani daily Dawn.

Sharif said that Saudi Arabia could serve as a mutually acceptable neutral country where a Pakistan-India dialogue might be held. Speaking to journalists, he added that China could also be a potential venue, but it wouldn't be considered neutral as India would never accept it.

His remarks came amid a renewed international interest in de-escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently offered to mediate and claimed that the U.S. had helped broker a ceasefire agreement.

Meanwhile, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told a parliamentary committee that the decision to suspend military operations between India and Pakistan was purely bilateral. He made the statement in response to questions from opposition lawmakers, who pointed out Trump’s repeated claims that the U.S. played a role in easing tensions.