Prince Rahim Aga Khan has written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the United Nations chief, offering his assistance in de-escalation between Pakistan and India.

According to a letter by Prince Rahim to PM Shehbaz, dated May 9 and seen by Dawn.com, the Aga Khan wrote: “Like many others around the world, I am extremely concerned about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan since the 22nd April attack in [occupied] Kashmir.

“It is my hope and prayer that a peaceful resolution to this conflict [would] be rapidly achieved in order to limit loss of life and injury on both sides,” he added.

Stressing that the Ismaili Imamat was a “non-political institution with strong historical relations with India and Pakistan”, Prince Rahim said: “I am therefore writing to offer my assistance in any way which Your Excellency thinks could be helpful, including mediation, in order to end this dispute.”

He noted that he had also written to UN Secretary General António Guterres, the Aga Khan, “offering my support in any way deemed appropriate — in creating the conditions to allow a lasting return to peace”.