Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif wants Saudi Arabia as 'neutral' venue for talks with India. Will Delhi agree?

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Saudi Arabia could be the "neutral" venue for talks between India and Pakistan on Kashmir, water, trade, and terrorism, according to a report. 

 

Sharif's statement, hoping for Saudi Arabia to mediate on talks, comes amid India's clear official stance that discussion with Pakistan will only happen on two issues: dismantling its terrorist infrastructure and the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. 

 

His projection of Saudi Arabia as a neutral venue was in response to a query on the possibility of a third venue for talks in light of the mediation offered by US President Donald Trump, reported Karachi-based Dawn. Interestingly, Sharif ruled out the possibility of China as a neutral venue, stating "India would never agree to that." 

 

 

However, Sharif's choice of Saudi Arabia is interesting, considering that the state has expressed interest in mediating between the two nuclear powers, so much that it sent its Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the day India launched Operation Sindoor. Many geopolitical experts view this as a curious 'pro-India' shift in the Kingdom's foreign policy since Saudi Arabia had been a longtime religious and strategic ally of Pakistan. 

 

Saudi Foreign Ministry also declared its efforts to mediate between India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and promote dialogue.  

 

Experts agree Saudi's pro-India stance -India is Saudi Arabia's second-largest trading partner and its Public Investment Fund (PIF) has invested significantly in India - could be an advantage to India. Also working in Saudi's favour is the fact that India is averse to the idea of a third power, especially an inconsistent US, interfering in its bilateral issue. 

 

However, it is unlikely that India would allow a third power to meddle in the issue as it considers Kashmir a sovereign issue with immense emotional and historical value.  India has reiterated that there wouldn't be any talks with Pakistan until it is held accountable for its patronage of cross-border terrorism. Unless a third party, including Saudi Arabia, does this, India wouldn't accept the possibility of talks. 

 

On the other hand, mediation has always been welcomed by Pakistan. After Trump offered to the mediation, Islamabad reacted via a statement that it appreciated "President Trump's expressed willingness to support efforts aimed at the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute - a longstanding issue that has serious implications for peace and security in South Asia and beyond." 

Middle East