Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, has issued a stern warning to India, stating that Pakistan’s desire for peace should not be misconstrued as weakness. He emphasized that any kind of aggressive move against Pakistan will be met with a strong response.
In an exclusive interview with ABC News anchor, Kerry Phillips, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh expressed Pakistan’s clear stance on the heightened tensions following the Pahalgam incident. He stated that Pakistan has always demonstrated responsibility and patience in such matters, but reiterated that the desire for peace should not be perceived as a sign of vulnerability.
“We do not seek escalation in the region, but one cannot predict the consequences when two nuclear powers are face to face,” he said.
The Ambassador further emphasized that Pakistan’s economic development is dependent on peace, but underscored that the country believes in dignified peace. He noted that India has not provided any evidence regarding the Pahalgam incident to Pakistan or the international community.
Addressing India’s aggressive policies, election-driven compulsions, and administrative failures, Sheikh stated that India could not shift the burden of its internal issues onto Pakistan. He pointed out that despite the presence of 700,000 troops in occupied Kashmir, India has failed to ensure peace, which he said should be a matter of serious concern for the Indian government.
Rizwan Saeed Sheikh also highlighted Pakistan’s vulnerability to terrorism, noting that the country has been the most affected by terrorism globally. Last year alone, Pakistan experienced nearly 1,000 terrorist incidents. He reminded that Pakistan has played a leading role in the global fight against terrorism, suffering immense loss of lives and financial resources in the process.
