In a significant diplomatic development, Pakistan and India are expected to hold high-level talks in Saudi Arabia, with the United States and Saudi Arabia acting as mediators, according to diplomatic sources who spoke to local media. The discussions aim to address long-standing disputes, particularly the Kashmir conflict and issues surrounding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)—two major flashpoints in the often-tense relationship between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
This initiative follows renewed efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who have played a central role in pushing both sides toward the negotiating table after a recent military flare-up. Trump has publicly expressed hope that both countries will honor the current ceasefire and use diplomacy to prevent further escalation.
Sources indicate that the upcoming dialogue will be steered by Washington and Riyadh. While India has maintained that it will only discuss terrorism and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan is insisting that the broader Kashmir issue—including Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)—and the status of the Indus Waters Treaty must also be part of the agenda.
“We are hopeful for progress on both fronts—the Kashmir issue and the stalled Indus Waters Treaty dialogue,” a senior Pakistani official told , highlighting the diplomatic momentum created by American and Saudi involvement. The official pointed to the recent Pahalgam attack as a factor behind India’s resistance to expanding the scope of talks.
In response to mounting regional tensions, the U.S. has offered to mediate the Kashmir dispute and urged both sides to re-engage in meaningful dialogue. Washington has also warned that failure to make diplomatic progress could jeopardize trade ties with both countries.
When contacted, officials at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and Pakistan’s Foreign Office declined to comment.
