Pakistani PM reiterates gratitude to Trump, Gulf nations for India ceasefire
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday thanked US President Donald Trump and Gulf countries for helping defuse Pakistan's tensions with India following an armed conflict between the nuclear-armed nations last month.
Trump announced he had helped broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan on May 10 after the worst fighting between the two countries since 1999. Following weeks of tensions, India and Pakistan pounded each other with artillery, fighter jets, missiles and drones in May before agreeing to cease hostilities.
Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also engaged both Indian and Pakistani officials throughout the conflict to help defuse tensions.
'[US] President [Donald] Trump has shown, beyond a ray of doubt and imagination, that he is a man for peace,' Sharif said at a ceremony at the US embassy in connection with the upcoming American Independence Day.
'He is a man for promoting peace and beneficial business needs. He is a man who is against escalation,' he added.
Days after the ceasefire agreement was announced, Trump said he used trade to defuse tensions between India and Pakistan.
Sharif noted Trump had advised both countries to promote trade and investments instead of fighting each other. The Pakistani premier appreciated Trump's 'outstanding contribution' to broker the ceasefire.
The Pakistani premier hoped the ceasefire would last between the two countries and lead to increased trade and investment.
'I hope and pray to God Almighty that this will become a long, lasting ceasefire on which we can build an edifice of investments, trade, pollution and so on so forth,' he said.
The Pakistani premier also appreciated the role played by Middle Eastern countries in resolving the dangerous conflict.
'And here, obviously, I'd like to mention the role of our friendly and brotherly countries in the Gulf, in the Middle East, who proactively coordinated with us and supported President Trump's genuine efforts,' Sharif said.
Sharif will travel to Saudi Arabia on a day-long visit to the Kingdom on Thursday, Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said.
The Pakistani premier will thank the Saudi leadership for its solidarity and support to Pakistan throughout the India standoff, Dar said.
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