Washington (TDI): Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, hosted a dialogue with representatives of prominent U.S. think-tanks, at the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C., today.
The session focused on the recent escalation between Pakistan and India following the tragic incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Ambassador Sheikh briefed the participants about the Pahalgam incident, questioning the plausibility of India’s allegations against Pakistan, given the absence of any credible evidence despite a First Information Report (FIR) filed within ten minutes.
“This is not the first time such instinctive accusations have been made against Pakistan,” stated the Ambassador recalling Pakistan’s responsible de-escalation after the 2019 Pulwama incident.
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The Ambassador contextualized the incident against the backdrop of India’s unilateral revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A in August 2019, which stripped IIOJK of its special status. He described the region as “the world’s largest prison,” where media, internet, and movement have been heavily restricted, creating an environment of repression.
“Pakistan cannot be blamed for brutal legacies, electoral expediencies and administrative inadequacies,” Ambassador Rizwan noted.
He also stated that the unilateral decision by the Indian government regarding the Indus Waters Treaty was contrary to its provisions. He reiterated that usurping the rights of the lower riparian and attempting to harm the agrarian economy of 240 million people would be considered an act of war.
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Expressing gratitude to the governments of the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and others for their support for peace, the Ambassador highlighted that the current crisis provided a latent opportunity to global powers to help addressing the longstanding Kashmir dispute, which continues to threaten regional peace.
In this context, he pointed to President Trump’s agenda of securing global peace, suggesting that resolving the Kashmir issue could cement his legacy as a peacemaker.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Sheikh invited the think-tank representatives to share their insights.
Sohail Majeed
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
