Clashes in recent weeks across the heavily militarised Line of Control (LoC), which divides the Himalayan territory between India and Pakistan, have raised the temperature between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Sharif said it was vital India and Pakistan became "good friends", in remarks published Tuesday by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), the state news agency.
"Let us make a new beginning. Let us sit together to resolve all outstanding issues in a friendly manner and in a peaceful atmosphere," he said. APP said he made the comments on Monday.
India's army on Tuesday accused Pakistan of firing across the LoC late on Monday in the latest confrontation.
Tensions have flared in the Kashmir valley since the killing last week of five Indian soldiers, which India blamed on the Pakistani army.
Pakistan accused India of killing a civilian during firing on Monday and summoned its envoy in Islamabad to register a protest.
The picturesque Himalayan territory is divided between India and Pakistan by the UN-monitored LoC, but both countries claim it in full.
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COMMENTS (41)
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Mr. Nawaz Sharif, You are the one person the with hopes of becoming a friendly nation with India. Good thinking Mr. Sharif, only if other people from pakistan also followed your thoughts, South Asia would have become a peaceful place.
But the main problem here is pakistani army, media and janta are always looking for a war with India. They are just filled with hate against India for no reason. India is just defending itself, nothing else. Please tell the people of your country to stop all this and let India live in peace.
I am surprised to see so many Indians commenting on this and trying to create a negative image of Pak Army/ ISI. I would request you to kindly familiarize yourself with facts first. The Indian government has already acknowledged that 5 Indian soldiers were not killed by Pak Army but militants. When you oppress Kashmiris so much, you should expect some reaction from them too (after all they are ALIVE homosapians). And if you favor the arguement that Pak should exercise greater control on their side of border so as not to allow militants to cross over to India, I would say India should exercise greater control over LoC too so as not to allow militants to infiltrate. The degree of influence Pak Army has on government is far less than Indian army on Indian government or CIA on US government.
@ Sonia
Loss of the life of pak soldiers is not funny.It's tragic.Any loss of life is tragic-on either side of the border. Where's your humanity ? If you're humane by nationality,then you've lost your humanity long ago.
Mr Sharif your intentions are noble. But the Pakistani army is not with you. So your statements will not help anyways. The army is going to trouble you even more in the future. That is the reason they are creating all this hype and hysteria.
Ms Sonia we pakistanis don't have all the time in this world to go to check out Indian news and comment on news pertaining to India,it goes on to show your mentality and mentality of others like you.Before talking against Pakistan again,do remember the freedom of expression you are getting here by bashing Pakistan on a Pakistani website. it also shows who's for peace and who's for continued hatred and war mongering
Pakistan should put Kashmir as an integral part of Pakistan in its constitution. Dismantle Pakistan Army completely and go peaceful.
The great professor Chanakya from Taxila University had recommended Chandragupta Maurya seven strategies in dealing with neighboring powers:
Appeasement, non-aggression pact 2. Gift, bribery 3. Divide, split 4. ILLUSION, DECEIT 5. Ignoring the enemy 6. Faking military strength 7. Strength, punishmentWe will be very happy to have peace with Pakistan. We welcome your thought process. Could you also figure out a way to control your army who otherwise will never allow any peace.
@sonia: The fact is that no other army in the world is that stupid to committ such a blunder and yes, it will be brought up again and again because it is a feat accomplished by no one else, so now you have to live with it... LOL... Regarding drones from US that is our internal issue so there is no point in commenting on it. Jog your memory and you will remember that we have shot down a IAF spy drone (Searcher II) in 2002 infact, in recent times we have shot down your fighter jets during Kargil. As far satellites are concerned, well India as we all know has a faulty space program with a remarkable launch failure rate.
@Farooque: We badly miss leader Like Pervaiz Musharraf.
You obviously have not read or even heard about this man's little misadventurism, namely one Kargil ! Secondly none of your leaders from his fraternity, have ever managed to achieve very much for the Nation, except, losing half of its territory, introduction of wahabism and complete and utter disregard for Nation building to the extent that they even today have an institution that is really not answerable to the elected Government of the Country, to whom the citizens have given mandate to rule ! That really speaks volume for this lot.
@Haseeb: coz pakistan bashing is funny and relaxing ... i am the new reader here and i just discovered it....... hope i answered ur question part 2... u r welcome to visit TOI and bash us ( if u can ..lol )
For over a month, whatever information about firing incidents at LoC is coming to us from Indian and Pakistani media is the same version that their militaries are providing them. Nobody can confirm or double check the facts that is why we should be careful before making any comments on the recent tensions on our borders.
once again our PM quotes golden words out of his love for India,wonder why doesn't he apply for permanent residency of India and once again Indians flocking Pakistani news sites and commenting on Pakistani news items and Pakistanis bashing each other. My two questions 1- friendship with India wonderful but at what cost? 2- Indians if you hate us so much why bother to access our news and comment over here?
Mr Sharif, leash in and start a "new beginning" with your army first. Everything else will fall in place gradually to the betterment of everybody.
Maybe, but it won't happen until the elected govt of Pakistan takes control of the military - one of those elephant in the rooms that few want to recognize.
@Hindustan: and what about getting half of kashmir from indian occupation in late 1940s and India ran crying to UN to have cease fire? did u forget that too?
@Pakistani: amazing how u keep on coming with same thing over and over again....if u want me to laugh at it... then here... hahaha.... pakistani army understands the difference between the planet and drones....still lost 27 of its soldiers in a drone attack....lol...pak air force understands still has failed miserably to bring even one down...lol....and pak has such a good understanding of planets and space....perhaps thats y it borrowed thrown and used satellite ...lol!! needless to say pathetic :)
He is still young. This same face i used to see him on TV and news papers when i was in 7-8th class..1996-97. Same waise ka waise hi hai. And our Vajpayee ji ...buddha ho chala..never to be heard off these days.
Nawaz sharif is good person but some hidden hands don't want him to work for better Pakistan and better asia????
Mr PM one had hopes from but you did not take long to dash those hopes
@Hindustan: Dream on Lalay. Have you checked lately whether your army knows the difference between drones and planets!! Pathetic.
These are empty gestures - worthy of appreciation but not reciprocation. The reason is that Mr. Sharif can only speak for himself and not for the Pak army.
And what to you have say about Indian army martyring our soldiers and kidnapping innocent civilians from border villages? We need to teach India a lesson hard way!
In the full interview he said: "Sharif said before 1947, the people of India and Pakistan used to live together."
What a stupid statement. Pakistan was created by partitioning India. It never existed before August 14, 1947.
@Hindustan however dont forget 1965.
Dialogue is the only key to survival, peace and prosperity for both great countries. Hawks be they extremists on this side or that side must be persuaded to talk and act peace. Both political govts should keep agencies under check and subservient to the will of the peoples of two counties. This is the biggest challenge of NS govt.
Moderators: Mr Saleem Shafi and Ms Nasim Zehra are not credible and knowledgeable ? Just for your information, both are Pakistani journalists and analysts.
@Pakistan, India will give you a kind of treatment that will fix all your ailments, just like 1971, lest you forget. Nice gesture by PM Nawaz though. I appreciate it.
Our relationship with India should be based on mutual respect. India should avoid power tactics for arms twisting of Pakistan. Unfortunatly all our current leaders including COAS, CJP, PM, apposition parties do not have Conviction and courage to give shut up call to India. We badly miss leader Like Pervaiz Musharraf.
NEW BEGINNING is the right way forward.
And it means to forget the past and talk about everything.
If Indian and Pakistani forces on the border become fast friends and stay next to each other , why would there be any border conflicts ?
If my neighbor next door bumps into me every now and then , it will be impossible for THIRD ELEMENTS to confuse me.
Both Indian and Pakistani leaders need to think beyond the religious expectations of their voters.
The words can come by later Mr. PM... its time for a little skirmish.
Very sensible of Mr shareef... war will give no one nothing.
MR SHARIF those were the same words during your elections//...i would request u to take everyone on board on our side first specially army and isi..and then make the next move...otherwise no use whenever we talk peace something like kargil or loc incident happens..and india is bound to react in its own way
Sane words!!!!! But this won't materialize till Pakistan army also realizes this necessity........ Lets hope Mr. Sharif is also able to convince the establishment....
Yes ! We have been having new beginnings for decades now and all they have consisted of are denials, non state actors more lies and mayhem ! Thanks, but no thanks. First sort out your own house and establish your authority, as to really is in charge of making foreign policy decisions, as its a complete waste of time to discuss any issues with casting crew, only directors are who matter and producers too !
Great initiative Mr Prime Minister. Appreciate it. But I think India badly needs treatment. After all they are pushing it too much.
Pakistan PM... whatever happened to localizing the copy?