Nawaz Sharif during his joint press talk with US President Barack Obama in the Oval Office on Wednesday. PHOTO: AFP
Nawaz, who left for London immediately after his meeting with Obama in the Oval Office, told media that “hopefully soon the drone issue will be resolved according to the wishes of Pakistani people.”
The premier added that there will be progress on the matter as violation of Pakistan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty was being committed. “I think this issue will now settle down somehow.”
Nawaz said “we talked about all issues,” in his meeting.
“I understand that in the past, all issues should have been discussed. But if these issues were not discussed in the past, it does not mean they should not be discussed now. Whatever we say, we act upon it. And I understand that Pakistan’s politics should come out of duplicity and hypocrisy.”
Referring to the Amnesty International report that states that the United States may be committing war crimes by using drones, Nawaz said “whatever they say, it is up to them. But I think I have raised this issue where it should have been raised. And when something is said, it does have its effect.”
Third party on Kashmir
Regarding his talks with the US leaders to help resolve the long standing issue of Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister said “the US should play a role.”
While India does not want any US role on the matter, Nawaz said Pakistan does want the US to play such a role.
“I have read and heard Indian Foreign Minister’s reaction to my earlier statement. We should talk to each other, and this would be a very good thing. But if bilateral negotiations do not succeed, then if third party helps in resolving the issue, there is no harm in it.”
Understanding concerns
Asked about Dr Aafia Siddiqui and Dr Shakeel Afridi, Nawaz said that while he could not say much on the issue, but that the US raised its concerns, as did Pakistan.
“They discussed Dr Shakeel, we did discuss Dr Aafia. Now we are going back to Pakistan; we will review the situation and will think about it. After we complete our review and analysis, then we will talk to you [media].”
Positive views
Nawaz, the need is to understand the concerns of each country, and that in response to the process of dialogue, Obama had positive views.
“Need of the hour is that we should understand each other’s concerns and then they should be addressed accordingly.”
“I think now we have started this process of dialogue, and you must have heard what Obama said today. I think his views were quite positive.”
Prime Minister Sharif said during his stay he met very important people in the US administration who showed keen interest on the issues of energy, economy and education.
“This shows that they are deeply interested in Pakistan’s progress. My meeting with President Obama was quite long and we discussed all issues.”
COMMENTS (35)
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@Indigenous:
Torture, rendition, enhanced interrogation techniques, Iran-Contra affair, the holocaust, the Church committee, apparently even the murder of Thomas Beckett. The US specifically enacted a law intending to eliminate this phenomenon. Even drone attacks themselves for a while. Both sides played that game before they were ratted out. Need i go on?
Everybody acts on convenience. Israel has and continues to break many UN resolutions, like the one regarding settlements, India deflected canadian nuclear supplies to their weapons program when they specifically agreed not to. Its building dams on rivers in contravention of the water treaty with pakistan. The NSG has allowed India access to the nuclear marketplace despite it not signing the CTBT. The list is long, Pakistan is not the only country on it.
@aaaaa: No need to get obtuse, my dear. Please let me know where "plausible deniability" has taken as large a part in international relations as between India and Pakistan (assuming you leave apart counties at war like the two Koreas).
People in glass houses? You lost me there. Please do post actual incidents.
@truthbetold:
I dont know how my post seems 'chest thumping' as you put it. I was merely re-iterating facts. NS said I will invite Manmohan to my inauguration, I will go to India even if I am not invited, we want peace with India on all issues, peace with India is one of our top priorities. He didn't get an equal response, with Salman Khurshid and Manmohan Singh mumbling and grumbling about terrorism all the while ignoring what they do in Balochistan.
I realise that india is 10 times bigger than pakistan, but thats just irrelevant drivel (some chest thumping of your own really) that has nothing to do with my post.
NS has actions to back up his sayings. A.B Vajpayee came on a bus to Lahore. Thats action.
@unbelievable:
He has way more control over the military than the PPP ever did. He's the only person the military is afraid of. He's a punjabi with a simple majority in the NA who has a history of looking at the military eye to eye. Not the sindhi PPP who could be pushed around especially because they needed the MQM (another of the military's pawns) to prop them up. Thats the whole reason PTI was brought into being by the military, to deny the PMLN as many votes and seats as possible. Didn't work because they got a simple majority anyway. It will take time, surely, but only he can do it, and this time round there's no coup threat around the corner.
@someone:
"Is this not the same Mr. Nawaz Sharif who was talking peace and then gave Kargil to India?"
I dont know what that means. The military screwed him over, but that was 15 years ago. His recent actions, in opposition and in govt, make it clear he intends to take on the military head on.
@Indigenous:
deniability has always played a role in international relations. Its as old as any political system. Lets not talk about honouring agreements. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, do you know what i mean?
@aaaaa: NS only says..does he actually mean what he says and do actions on the ground reflect spoken words?
@aaaaa: WP post is old news, from the last governments time not relevant at all in the present.
You highlighted the root of the problem with Pakistan, something that gp65, np and ModiFied have been repeating all along. Pakistan does not honor its agreements made as one sovereign country to another. Now you are saying that since it is a new government, Pakistan does not have to honor any commitments made by the previous government under Gilani. Hilarious! This is simply not how it works.
Pakistan either sees agreements or commitments the way it wishes to see them, picking and choosing the sections that appeal to its rulers, while glossing over the ones that are inimical to them (e.g. UN resolution where Pakistan has to vacate its portion of Kashmir) or simply abrogates it once its needs are met (e.g. Shimla agreement).
As far as NS is concerned, simply mouthing the same tired words of "seeking peace with India" holds no water when the actions of the army as well as his government betray those very words.
@rehmat: Your PM had signed SImla agreement. You are openly in breach of the agreement by seeking US role in Kashmir.
Just shows Mian Nawaz Sharif is not serious about any peace at all.. Moohn mein Ram Ram Bagal mein churee.
@aaaaa: Should not the actions be louder than words? Is this not the same Mr. Nawaz Sharif who was talking peace and then gave Kargil to India? How do you expect India to trust such a man? Can a single Pakistan person who has even a little knowledge of internal politics of Pakistan swear on his life that NS is the real authority when it comes to making policies related to India and Afghanistan? I am sure such a man would have a very little life after swearing.
There seems to be no difference between Nawaz Shariff and Zardari. Both are governed by COAS. The drone attacks will continue since Millitary is not capable.
.India is not “1980 India” but “2013 India” in which the pakistani politicians still not able to understand.
@Lal Understanding requires thinking. You forgot that part.
We cannot even look after ourselves but want Kashmir to be part of ourselves. @Iqbal There are some muslims in Indian side of Kashmir who have Kashmir problem. Pakistanis having "kashmir problem" is a manifestation of a much much bigger problem called "Pakistan problem".
U.S., Pakistan had secret agreement on dozens of drone strikes! http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/24/politics/u-s-drones-pakistan-report/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
@aaaaa:
That makes sense but ignores that NS has no control over the military so his rhetoric doesn't count for much. Like it or not - your prime minister doesn't control foreign policy - when in doubt ask India, USA or Afghanistan.
@aaaaa:
What you and other chest thumping Pakistanis don't seem to realize is the reality that it is Pakistan that is getting more and more destabilized and going down the drain economically, socially and politically as a direct result of its foolish anti-India confrontational policies. It is Pakistan that needs peace more than India.
Do realize that in international geopolitics the country with a weak hand can't really dictate terms to a country that is 10 times its size, especially in economics. Indians can absorb more of the terror pinpricks without limit, but can Pakistan hope to survive if its anti-India obsession is continued ad infinitum?
@Ishrat salim: "On one hand it want Pakistan to hold discussion with TTP but on the other hand they have not agreed to even consider suspending drones so that Pakistan could initiate dialogue with TTP….?"
When did US say Pakistan should hold discussion with TTP? TTP is Pakistan's internal problem which US does not care about.
"which exposes the real face of American govt…..they care a hoot about us,only interested to protect their,own country"
It is sad that it took you 65 years to figure that out. That has always been the case. Each country pursues its own national interest. They work together were the interests converge. No country 'cares' for another country.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan is an intelligent and seasoned politician and knows that Mr Obama is not regarded as a trustworthy partner even by his European and latino allies.. His visit had no more importance than to follow up on Malala historic visit and to collect the unpaid fees owed by the USA for services provided by Pakistan, Pakistan key strategic partner is the neighbouring China, which was the first country he visited after being sworn in as the Prime Minister. With regard to his affair with aging Indian supremo, he playedd a classic hat trick to involve him with Obama. Bravo!!
Rex Minor
If only the request to suspend drones were agreed, this would have given a leverage to the govt to hold talks with the TTP...but it is my personal opinion, that USA has a different agenda....a vicious one.On one hand it want Pakistan to hold discussion with TTP but on the other hand they have not agreed to even consider suspending drones so that Pakistan could initiate dialogue with TTP....? which exposes the real face of American govt.....they care a hoot about us,only interested to protect their,own country.
Mr. PM, drone was never an issue. The real issue was to get civil nuclear technology from USA so that Pakistanis can live their lives.
@gp65:
interesting how you put the whole onus of the peace process on pakistan. because india's such a sincere partner, yes? NS is all for peace, has said so countless times, doesnt really need to do much more. Its on India to reciprocate now. And don't bring up your terrorism schtick, India does the same in Balochistan. Thats a circular, never ending argument.
@np: @ModiFied:
I dont know why indians think NS has to satisfy them. Newsflash: he doesn't. Second of all, that WP post is old news, from the last governments time not relevant at all in the present. Thats the reason Gilani felt compelled to respond today, not NS, or anybody connected with the present govt.
Don't expect too much from this trip; we all know where America stands for the drone strikes. Overall, not a bad trip to thaw frozen relationship and get's the ball rolling for better trade.
I am not a fan on Nawaz Sharif but love his approach of trade not aid.
"But if bilateral negotiations do not succeed, then if third party helps in resolving the issue, there is no harm in it." How would any third party help to resolve the issue, if India will not even come to the table where two parties are already sitting at it. Kashmir is a dead horse. No amount of flogging will make it rise up and give you a ride where you want to go. Besides, was Bhutto being an opportunist to have agreed to this clause in Shimla Agreement just to get his 100,000 mard-e-momin released from Indian POW camps? World does not appreciate such manipulation by a vanquished party. There is no one in the world that will agree to abrogation of Shimla Agreement. Territories do not belong to people living on it but only to sovereign powers. The only way territories have changed hands throughout history is one of three ways; by gift, by a sale or by conquest. India is neither prepared to gift away or sell Jammu and Kashmir. The third option is still open to Pakistan.
I just do not understand my fellow Pakistanis. We cannot even look after ourselves but want Kashmir to be part of ourselves. Think carefully, why would rest of the World permit this because it would mean more terrorism. If it is Kashmir tomorrow then what is stopping NS and his cronies to say that India should be part of Pakistan next week? It is a well known fact that nobody outside the Islamic world trusts Muslims these days. The West has lost patience with us and it would be appropriate for us to back off and accept we have failed. I mean Pakistan has failed and we ought to give it back to India. The problem is they will not take it because they proved it in 1971 that it is the cancer of Asia and nothing works there. Everyone knows where it is but nobody wants to go there because they are most likely to return in a body bag.
How about publishing the full post briefing between them. Print Obama's statement where he hints Pakistan is an epicentre of terrorism.
Regarding his talks with the US leaders to help resolve the long standing issue of Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister said “the US should play a role.” While India does not want any US role on the matter, Nawaz said Pakistan does want the US to play such a role.
US' official response to Nawaz Sharif while he was still on flight to US: Not an 'iota of change' in Kashmir policy: US
Kashmir + Drones. US has already clarified its stance on both issues and Nawaz Sharif can't do anything about it except making statements to appease the Pakistani awam. Poor chap.
I think pm sherif does not know that US can't do much about kashmir issue as they don't have that much leverage over India.India is an independent country.India allied with both Russia and US.India is not "1980 India" but "2013 India" in which the pakistani politicians still not able to understand.By 2030 only 3 countries is more powerful 1.China 2.US 3.India.
Nobel Nawaz. Please also request USA to resolve Balochistan issue. I am really excited for a new sovereign democratic country of Balochistan in my neighborhood.
@gp65: Does it surprise you that they are breaching Simla agreement given that they are acknowledged by friend and foes alike to be pathological agreement breachers?
As much as you may want to involve third parties into Jammu and Kashmir, you cannot do so as you have signed the Simla agreement. And this is not a charter of democracy that someone can walk away from claiming that it is not a hadith.
As usual another "successful" visit.
Mian Sahab's US trip has been a total flop show. His drone chants remain exposed after Washington Post exposé. India and China are already on one page as far as terrorism originating from Pakistan is concerned. During press briefing even Obama spoke of terrorism export from Pakistan. Mian Sahab should focus on LOC, lest things get out of control. Right or wrong, Indians are well known for their out of proportion reactions and might do the same on LOC. Start speaking truth and many things will settle down for good. Please note that world economy is down and there is no free money available any where to rescue you. Poor economy and terrorism don't mix well.
we discussed blah blah, will review it, act accordingly blah blah. process of dialogue blah blah. LOLz He thinks whole world could be fooled by these tricks.
Regarding his talks with the US leaders to help resolve the long standing issue of Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister said “the US should play a role.” . I doubt Obama agreed with Sharif's recommendation - where's the upside for the USA to get involved in that quagmire? A no win situation which has to be as bad as getting sucked into Israel/Palestinian negotiations.
This is a wishful thinking not only of the Prime Minister, but also of people of Pakistan that US drone strikes on Pakistan should come to a complete halt, the issue of occupied Kashmir should be settled and Dr, Aafia Siddiqui should return Pakistan.
But I don't see that any of the above-mentioned wish is going to come true according to the aspiration of the Government or people of Pakistan.