Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that Pakistan believes in resolving all issues with India through peaceful diplomacy.
“We have no option but to live in peace in the interest of the people of Pakistan and India and my government is committed to improving relations with India,” the premier said during a meeting with Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan TCA Raghavan at the Prime Minister House on Wednesday.
Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi was also present on the occasion, says a press statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
“We need to work towards setting aside the baggage of history, prevailing mistrust and lack of flexibility,” he told the Indian diplomat.
He also spoke about his ‘very good meeting’ with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in September on the fringes of the UN General Assembly in New York and the one between Sartaj Aziz and India’s External Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed in New Delhi recently. “We should continue to hold regular meetings and interactions at all levels as these will help towards normalising of relations,” Nawaz said.
Expressing his desire to enhance trade relations with India, the premier said the second meeting in October of the Joint Business Council in New Delhi was useful. “We look forward to further interactions between the two ministries of power and commerce to discuss ways and means in moving forward on trade matters.”
The prime minister said there was also a need to increase people-to-people contacts, including visits of pilgrims, and termed it ‘an important confidence-building measure’.
He said Pakistan and India need to institutionalise the mechanism for meetings between their national security advisers to discuss matters
related to terrorism as it would help allay concerns of both sides.
He expressed satisfaction over the current situation at the Line of Control (LoC). However, he called for further strengthening the existing mechanism of meetings at the LoC. Directors general of military operations (DGMOs) of the two sides should meet so that there was no untoward incident in future.
Luncheon of ambassadors
Nawaz hosted a luncheon in honour of a group of ambassadors at the PM House.
Addressing the luncheon in honour of ambassadors the premier stressed the need for converting the existing goodwill with other countries into mutually beneficial partnerships.
“We are looking to working closely with the world in exploring, exploiting and developing this potential and realising the opportunities,” he was quoted as saying in an official statement.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2013.
COMMENTS (31)
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@maestro: I agree with every word you have said. But what do we do with politicians and sorry to say Pakistan army whose existence depend upon hate India feeling. You must be aware that colossal amount of time, energy and planning is spent in Pakistan to tell the people that India and Pakistan have different language, culture, food habits, customs, history and so on. It is propagated that people of Pakistan are in every aspect closer to the Arabs than people of India. But Sir, YOU after spending so many years in America and knowing the truth will also realize that all this is done to ensure that people to people contact does not succeed. The sole purpose of spreading hate is to put creamy layers to their bread and butter. Regards.
@maestro: Dear Sir, I have no problem relating with everything that you have written. I can even understand that you have to have an assumed name and cannot feel the freedom to use your own name. I am not complaining. Let me tell you a story. More than 40 years ago, when I was in the company of senior scholars at a research institution in India (I was the smallest chap there), an Indian professor who had been in the University of London for more than 20 years gave us an insight into relations between Indians and Pakistanis in UK. He said things which were exactly the same as the experience that you are relating. In a third country Indians and Pakistanis get along fine and have no problem interacting with each other. I was in Edinburgh for about six months earlier this year in a family setting. In that specific residential area there was only one other Indian family but about 10 or more Pakistani families, including one that was our next door neighbour. We got along famously and had no problem because of the country of our origin. It was so easy to get into a conversation at any time. Children from our families got along fine. We never felt any reservation. Most of the time we spoke in Urdu and occasionally we broke into our native Punjabi. Once Indians and Pakistanis are back in India and Pakistan, they regress into the familiar mould of antipathy, if not downright hostility – fortunately only in thought. There needs to be the beginning of a movement towards a shared understanding and explanation of history and events that led to the making of Pakistan and there needs to be realization in both countries that since they are placed in a certain geographical setting, there is no escape from being neighbours. Wars, including asymmetrical war (also called terrorism), have achieved nothing and can achieve nothing. People need to arise in both countries to realize that they have to find solution of their problems by talking only, repeat, by talking only. There is no other way. At this moment, Nawaz Sharif is hardly in control in Pakistan, and Manmohan Singh can hardly be expected to take basic decisions in the few moths remaining to him before the next elections in May next. So, for the next six months at any rate, no movement is possible. It will be in the fitness of things if matters are allowed to remain as they are at present and not let them get out of hand. Change and progress may be possible later on. People to people contacts can create an ambience but this is not a substitute for realization by decision makers in both countries that they have to find solutions and not go on creating more problems for each other. We also need to stop seeking help of other countries in solving our problems. Other countries shall always have their own agenda and objectives. Regards. V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, 13 Dec 2013, 1710 IST
26/11 is not baggage of history
@V. C. Bhutani: Dear Mr. Bhutani, the same could be said of the Indian side where the Indian media is actually much more vitriolic about Pakistan than the Pak media is about India. In daily talk shows and current affairs programs here, rarely India is discussed. On the other hand, the Indian media jumps on any opportunity to spew venom towards Pakistan regularly. This mindset has to change, starting from our school books even, on both sides. We are taught to hate each other. But when an Indian visits Pakistan, hands down they say they received an unbelievable warm welcome and hospitality here. I am personally a witness to this. Have a you EVER heard of an Indian tourist to Pakistan complaining about the treatment they received here? Ever? So thats what happens when two people of such similar backgrounds and history meet - they immediately become friends. Thats why a complete re-evaluation of our thought process towards each other is needed - it will only benefit the people of both countries. People to people contact is a must. I lived 18 years in the US where I made many Indian friends some of whom are like family to me. When I was studying for SAP in an Indian run institute there, I was the lone Pakistani among about a dozen Indians - I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive. Lunch time, we all went into the kitchen, they all opened their lunch boxes (daal, saag paneer, chicken boti and naans) - they looked at me and said come and eat with us bhai. And we all shared the meal and laughed talking. We can achieve this on a national level too if only we set aside bitterness. Peace.
The radicalized pseudo-intellectuals on both sides of the border include PTI & RSS, whose only survival is to promote hatred between Pakistan & India. Their nefarious designs will not succeed any more and peace & prosperity will definitely meet Pakistan & India the same way countries in EU, ASEAN are reaping the benefits InshaAllah!
@Xnain: you confuse humiliation with obsession..!!
and let me put forward my begging bowl..... ?
@Moiz Omar: In this way we don't even offer aid . So pls be agressive.
There seems to be prevalent in Pakistan the entirely misplaced notion that spouting sweet sounding words is enough to negate past and continuing actions of promoting terrorism targeting India not to mention other hostile Pakistani behaviour such as attacking and beheading Indian soldiers. Pakistan must be very clear that the tree of harmony on the Indian Sub-Continent will need to be necessarily watered with the blood of Pakistani based terrorists who have targeted India.
Zarb e Hanood
There seems to be prevalent in Pakistan the entirely misplaced notion that spouting sweet sounding words is enough to negate past and continuing actions of promoting terrorism targeting India not to mention other hostile Pakistani behaviour such as attacking and beheading Indian soldiers. Pakistan must be very clear that the tree of harmony on the Indian Sub-Continent will need to be necessarily watered with the blood of Pakistani based terrorists who have targeted India.
@Rajeve: and leaving the inferiority complex Pakistanis we will never forget the terrorism in East Pakistan by India, terrorism in Balochistan and FATA, we will never forget that India has been sending terrorists like sarabjeet singh who are hailed by fascist indians as their national hero for slaughtering innocent Pakistani citizens, we will never forget that you are our enemy and will remain so, the only problem is whether ET would let this comment appear as Pakistani media especially English media favors India at the expense of Pakistan
@Raheel: "wow talk about having no sense of self respect for this country. Indians have been spurning them and they still keep begging them, get going “lion”
Would you please, for a moment, pause and think why? Why India of late has taken this attitude? please think again; Sure you will find thee answer. Also think; In India's place what would you have done?
@Nikki: We will have to forget bitter? Kashmir war 1948 War 1965 Kargil 1999 Everyday killing accross the border.Do you think these incidents are forgetable?
@Kafka: The comments of Indians prove otherwise who is obsessed with who :)
@polpot: But how can Pakistan do it when India itself admits that it only has 1% of evidence with her about the suspects? Get a life, a break and an evidence....
Is everybody in ur establishment on board? Naaaaa I dnt think so
Nawaz Sharif’s ideas are unexceptionable. The point is can he deliver? Regardless of who is Pakistan’s COAS, Pakistan’s foreign policy and especially India policy is decided by the Pakistan Army (including ISI). So, then, how far can the prime minister go in seeking to build better relations with India? Talking at various levels is all right and may serve some useful purpose, but mere talking cannot substitute for action which Pakistan needs to take in various matters. Pakistan’s leaders, newspapers, and think tanks do not tire of stigmatizing India on every conceivable occasion without a shred of evidence. Surely, they don’t expect to be taken seriously. A prime minister with the best will in the world shall not succeed if people around him keep dinning contrary things into his ears all the time. A great deal will have to change before Pakistan–India relations can lift up. If such changes do not happen, then mere pious thinking and pious talking shall get us nowhere. It has been my view for some time that in Pakistan there is no constituency for good relations with India. Somebody in Pakistan has to start doing things to convince me that my view is wrong. I hope my view is wrong. V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, 12 Dec 2013, 1454 IST
@Nikki: Pakistani fanatic will not support you and your views. Some time you propose ideal solution, but this is the owrld of realism and powerful not accept weak......India has gone for a head in several fields and you will take decades
You people please wait and we are going to have a fresh government at the center in four months and now lot of political confusion prevailing here. We respect your emotions also. regards Indian
Nothing is permanent in this world.I believe one day, Indian -Pakistani will travel without VISA.I know the fact that powerful establishment ( both sides) is a barrier but eventaully peace will prevail. Now, Pakistan cannot afford any advanture in the name of secuirty. People want peace not war.Few fanatic mindset should not prevail both sides.Let us fight against poverty, illiteracy, and bring happiness for the common man. We , certainly, will have to forget bitter.
Your obsession with india is becoming annoying. Please concentrate on law and order situation in karachi, Balochistan and KP. Once there is peace within Pakistan, you will see a mammoth economic growth and India itself would like to have good relations with you..........
A large majority of Indians hope that what The PM of Pakistan is saying he also means it. It was Mr Nawas Sharif himself who was shaking hands with Indian PM Atalji when Pakistan troops were running over Kargil a covert operation. Not only with India Pakistan has double crossed America in war against terror. The world is watching the sham it played with America. Soooo the heart says let us believe him this time and go ahead but the head is sending large signals of disbelief. A move to disband terror training camps and stop exporting cross boarder terror will establish some faith and nudge us to come closer.
Great news! Nawaz Sharif is the true leader of South Asia and he has the ability to deliver peace for the region. While a handful of radicalized pseudo-intellectuals at both sides of the border might view otherwise but only peace can bring prosperity in the region.
Does that baggage also includes the "Concept of a Religion as ideological foundation of a nation state", "partition" & "kashmir issue" ? The baggage is an unseparable part of our collective past.We cannot undo it. But it is possible to outgrow it & this is exactly what is expected from pakistan. Please develop & institutionalise the concept of SAARC like the European Union Experiment. Everything from the pk army to the local politics will have to fall in line.
Baggage of history contains 1. Kashmir dispute 2. Siachen dispute 3. Indus water treaty 4. Mumbai attacks 5. Not granting MFN 6. Conspiracy theories of Indian involvement in Balochistan and the unlimited consulates in Afganistan
Mr PM. Do u want to leave all these issues as closed and start as a clean slate accepting status quo as default boundaries, treaties and closure of cases. India may accept this. Is your army behind this new gesture? Will u and ur army guarantee no infiltration across LOC India's acceptance will depend on these.
Please clarify u mean to say that u will forget kashmir or u mean to say u are giving Indian territory of POK and Gilgit baltistan back to India which is motherland of us all..Please clarify in brief...Hope ET dont banned my comment as I am a muslim from Indian Kashmir too..and want to know the pakistani approach and its people opinion..........
"“We need to work towards setting aside the baggage of history, prevailing mistrust and lack of flexibility,”" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Why? ??
Gaseous Discharge in place of Action. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Complete prosecution of 26/11 Arrested for starters.
is he ok? he should understand that others are not fools.
wow talk about having no sense of self respect for this country. Indians have been spurning them and they still keep begging them, get going "lion"