India “Outreach” by Pakistani PM Shehbaz Is an Effort to Win Over International Lenders and Repair Image

Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, made the invitation to meet with India at a time when that country is simultaneously grappling with an economic crisis and a wave of terrorism being supported by the Pakistan Taliban, also known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The news agency PTI cited Shehbaz Sharif as stating, “We are prepared to talk with everyone, even with our neighbor, provided that the neighbor is serious to talk about serious matters on the table because war is no longer an option.”

The remarks were delivered in Islamabad during the Pakistan Minerals Summit. According to PTI’s report, it was held under the banner “Dust to Development” and was intended to attract international investment to the cash-strapped nation.

According to sources acquainted with the situation, Pakistan has made similar declarations in the past to appease the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other major international lenders.

“Simply talking won’t do; they must do action on the border if they want to improve ties. The aforementioned individuals said that initiative must be made by them if they wish to improve ties.

They emphasized that drug smuggling across borders continues unabatedly and cited Pakistani authorities who acknowledged that narcotics are being trafficked into India from Pakistan.

Drugs are being smuggled into Punjab from Pakistan via drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), a prominent Pakistani journalist was informed by a Shehbaz Sharif’s assistant and provincial assembly member.

Pakistan is battling an economic crisis while avoiding the possibility of going into default on its debt.

Pakistan is also conscious of the influence India has on international affairs and how New Delhi has not only emerged as a leader of the Global South but also as a country that upholds the rules-based system of international relations and is an advocate of reform in multilateral fora.

Islamabad is also well aware of the efforts India and its allies, including as Japan and France, made in recent months to assist Sri Lanka in aiding Colombo, which is also beset by a comparable economic crisis.

According to those who were cited above, Sharif’s declaration is an effort to win favor with the world community and improve their reputation abroad. They said that insincere words won’t do much to mend frayed relations between Islamabad and New Delhi.