Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif emphasised the need for India and Pakistan to "bury" the past to move beyond their historical conflicts and focus on building better future relations. He made these remarks to a group of Indian journalists, praising Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar’s recent visit to Islamabad as a positive step.
Sharif, who has served as Pakistan’s prime minister three times, described Jaishankar’s trip as a “good opening” and called for both nations to engage in constructive dialogue. “We can’t change our neighbours, neither can Pakistan nor can India. We should live like good neighbours,” he said.
Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad marked the first time an Indian foreign minister had attended a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Pakistan in nine years. Though there was no separate bilateral meeting between the Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers, Sharif and some Pakistani officials viewed the visit as an "ice-breaker."
Sharif also reflected positively on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unexpected visit to Lahore in December 2015. He expressed his disappointment over the stalled relations since then, urging both countries to look forward. “We must pick up the threads of our conversation. We should not let this go on for the next 70 years,” Sharif added.
Sharif noted that the tension in relations escalated due to various events, including terror attacks in India by Pakistan-based groups in 2016. He offered to play a bridge-building role and stressed the importance of not "going to the past" but instead focusing on the future. "It would be better if we bury the past so that we can use the potential between the two countries," he suggested.
The former prime minister also advocated for the resumption of cricketing ties and the establishment of trade relations between the two nations. He stressed the practical benefits of direct trade, saying, “Goods now go from Amritsar to Lahore via Dubai. What should take two hours now takes two weeks.”
Sharif expressed a desire to see mutually beneficial relationships flourish, reminiscing about the Lahore Declaration signed in 1999 with then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which had been considered a significant milestone in India-Pakistan relations.
The bilateral ties worsened after India's airstrike on a terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan, in February 2019, following a terror attack in Pulwama, and further strained after India's revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status in August 2019.
Sharif hopes that recent interactions signal a move towards resolving longstanding issues and opening new avenues for cooperation.
With inputs from PTI
Sharif, who has served as Pakistan’s prime minister three times, described Jaishankar’s trip as a “good opening” and called for both nations to engage in constructive dialogue. “We can’t change our neighbours, neither can Pakistan nor can India. We should live like good neighbours,” he said.
Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad marked the first time an Indian foreign minister had attended a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Pakistan in nine years. Though there was no separate bilateral meeting between the Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers, Sharif and some Pakistani officials viewed the visit as an "ice-breaker."
Sharif also reflected positively on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unexpected visit to Lahore in December 2015. He expressed his disappointment over the stalled relations since then, urging both countries to look forward. “We must pick up the threads of our conversation. We should not let this go on for the next 70 years,” Sharif added.
Sharif noted that the tension in relations escalated due to various events, including terror attacks in India by Pakistan-based groups in 2016. He offered to play a bridge-building role and stressed the importance of not "going to the past" but instead focusing on the future. "It would be better if we bury the past so that we can use the potential between the two countries," he suggested.
The former prime minister also advocated for the resumption of cricketing ties and the establishment of trade relations between the two nations. He stressed the practical benefits of direct trade, saying, “Goods now go from Amritsar to Lahore via Dubai. What should take two hours now takes two weeks.”
Sharif expressed a desire to see mutually beneficial relationships flourish, reminiscing about the Lahore Declaration signed in 1999 with then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which had been considered a significant milestone in India-Pakistan relations.
The bilateral ties worsened after India's airstrike on a terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan, in February 2019, following a terror attack in Pulwama, and further strained after India's revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status in August 2019.
Sharif hopes that recent interactions signal a move towards resolving longstanding issues and opening new avenues for cooperation.
With inputs from PTI
You may also like
FATF makes new listing criteria: Focus shifts to high-risk nations,
Chance or precise planning: How Israel found and killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar?
MP: FIR Against Warehouse Manager Of Sadashiv Fertilisers Private Limited For Illegal Storage Of Fertilisers In Dewas
Man Dies After Being Hit by A Speeding Car In Damoh; Driver Arrested
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh to take out yatra today
