https://arab.news/458ev
- Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire with India on Saturday after both sides exchanged missile, drone attacks
- Shehbaz Sharif urges nation, particularly religious scholars, to offer special prayers for those killed in conflict
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that the nation would mark today, Sunday, as a 鈥淒ay of Gratitude鈥� to recognize the 鈥渂efitting response鈥� it had delivered to the Indian military following a shaky ceasefire agreement between Islamabad and New Delhi that took after days of conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
United States President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Washington had brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following intense missile and drone exchanges, which began after a gun attack in Pahalgam, a tourist resort in Indian-administered Kashmir, that killed 26 people, in April.
India blamed Pakistan for the incident despite Islamabad鈥檚 rejection of the allegation, and launched retaliatory strikes on what it called 鈥渢errorist infrastructure.鈥� It also took other retaliatory actions, including the suspension of a decades-old river water sharing treaty with lower riparian Pakistan.
The ceasefire announcement came after the Pakistan military said early on Saturday it had launched retaliatory strikes against India, accusing it of attacking three bases in Pakistan with missiles. Pakistan鈥檚 military said it had targeted multiple bases in India in response, including a missile storage site in India鈥檚 north.
鈥淧rime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has announced to observe 鈥榊oum-e-Tashakkur鈥� across the country today [Sunday] for giving a befitting response to Indian aggression and the success of 鈥極peration Bunyan-un-Marsoos,鈥欌€� state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
The state media said the day would be observed to offer gratitude to god, pay tribute to the Pakistani armed forces for their 鈥渦nmatched bravery鈥� and appreciate the nation鈥檚 resilience.
Sharif appealed to the nation, particularly religious scholars, to offer voluntary prayers for the people who had been martyred in the attacks.
鈥淪hehbaz Sharif expressed the resolve that the sacrifices of the Pakistan Armed Forces will never be forgotten, as the nation stands shoulder to shoulder with them,鈥� Radio Pakistan said.
SHARIF HOPES TO RESOLVE OUTSTANDING ISSUES
In his address to the nation on Saturday night, the Pakistani prime minister hoped Islamabad鈥檚 ceasefire with New Delhi would pave the way for both countries to resolve longstanding issues.
鈥淲e firmly believe that all outstanding issues, including the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir and the distribution of water resources, should be resolved through peaceful dialogue in accordance with the principles of justice,鈥� he said.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had announced that the two countries鈥� military operations chiefs had spoken to each other and agreed that all fighting would stop at 5 p.m. Indian time (1130 GMT) on Saturday, without using the word 鈥渃easefire.鈥� The MO chiefs would next speak on May 12, he added.
Within hours, however, India accused Islamabad of violating the ceasefire by targeting Srinagar city in Kashmir.
Pakistan鈥檚 Information Minister Ata Tarar denied the allegation, saying people in his country were celebrating the end of the conflict and the government remained committed to the agreement.
The foreign office of Pakistan also maintained the country remained committed to the 鈥渇aithful implementation鈥� of the ceasefire.
鈥淣otwithstanding the violations being committed by India in some areas, our forces are handling the situation with responsibility and restraint,鈥� it said in a statement.