Nawaz wants India to play cricket in Pakistan

Sees SCO summit as a chance to reset India-Pakistan ties

LAHORE:

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has said the recently concluded Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit could serve as a new beginning for Pakistan and India to mend their ties.

Indian Foreign Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar attended the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the SCO, hosted by Islamabad on October 15 and 16.

This was the first visit by an Indian government official to Pakistan in a long time, sparking hope for future engagement between the two nations, which have fought three wars over the disputed Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to Indian journalists about India-Pakistan relations, Nawaz, who leads the ruling PML-N and has served as the country's prime minister three times, said that improving relations between the two neighbors could pave the way for progress in many areas.

Nawaz reiterated his position that it would have been better if Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended the SCO conference. "The SCO conference could mark a good start for Pakistan-India relations. A lot could improve if Pakistan-India ties are restored," he said. He said the Indian cricket team should come to Pakistan to play the Champions Trophy.

"If you ask the Indian team, I am sure they would also say they want to come and play in Pakistan," he added. However, Nawaz acknowledged that the past has been bitter. "Let's see what the future holds," he remarked.

On Oct 14, Nawaz Sharif expressed optimism about restoring Pakistan's ties with India and meeting with Prime Minister Modi in an interview with Indian journalist Barkha Dutt.

Referring to Pakistan-India relations, Nawaz said he has always been a supporter of good ties with India. "I hope there is an opportunity to revive our relationship," he said.

Dutt quoted Nawaz as saying, "It would have been great if Prime Minister Modi had attended the SCO summit here in Pakistan. I do hope that he and I will have an opportunity to sit together in the not-so-distant future."