Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressing the 4th Alhamra International Literature and Cultural Conference 2013 in Lahore. PHOTO: PID
Politics should be treated separately from the economy and anti-terrorism efforts, he emphasised.
“Even politicians should not include politics in these matters,” he added.
Nawaz also said that he believes “visa restrictions between the two countries should be removed.”
Conflicts along the Line of Control are not beneficial for either country, the premier explained, adding that Pakistan maintains good relations with other neighbouring countries so there is no reason why this cannot be achieved with India as well.
It is important in Islam and other religions as well to be neighbourly, Nawaz added.
Business prospects
Earlier this week, the Federation of Pakistani Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Zubair Ahmed Malik had said that Pakistan should grant Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India.
While attending an event organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), he had emphasised the need for the two countries to ease visa restrictions.
India had already granted Pakistan MFN status in 1996 but Pakistan is yet to reciprocate the measure even though according to World Trade Organisation (WTO) norms, member countries are required to provide this status on a reciprocal basis.
Also this week, Nawaz had urged his Indian counterpart to resume the stalled peace process in order to resolve all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, the prime minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Wednesday had conveyed Nawaz’s message to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, seeking resolution of all issues with India through dialogue.
COMMENTS (62)
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Who are responsible for violence.
@Khan: In which world are you living? Indians are coming back from west to work in India. Even white people are coming here in India to work and study. In my locality many white men and women are living. Don't comment if you don't know about India.What you have written is true for Pakistan only
Good luck Nawaz Sharif and Nikki . Peace may prevail no matter what?
@Nikki:
We all are with Prime minister Nawaz Sahrif and you. We hoping that some more Indian will be also in love with Pakistani guys. People power speaks always.
We want peace with India...with the remaining piece of Kashmir-Sharif.
Nawaz Shareef wants to be given more Steel Mills by India. He is a businessman, and Pakistan is his business. Imran Khan is the real patriot, thats why he fears him. Think about it.
Lol @ people that say pakistan does not want peace with india.
Just look at the comments and see how indians are hating on pakistanis and muslims!!
I feel so bad that people are sufffering due to harsh stances .I think there is no issue in the world which cannt be resolved,if the two governments love their people they must use the last resort to bring easy way to unite the people.
@Nikki:
congratulation on welcoming statement by Pakistani prime minster. prime minsiter has potential to convice his counterpart (Indian- PM),thus Nikki will enjoy her life living in peace. Both states should manage their security issues instead restrictions on their innocent people.
@Nikki:
we are wiht you and with your fellow,we will build our future.Your Prime minister will certainly bring postive steps for people. I am sure no one has the right to deter if people want what they want legitimate.
I am with Nawaz Sahrif when he says that both countries go forward for peace in this region. Indeed, visa restriction is a ajor issue between India and Pakistan. We will benefit for removal of visa restriction. Many people accross the border want to meet.Nikki is only one case, she has bluntly and bravely expressed her wish, we people of both side should respect those want to live in peace and should support those talk about removing hate and heysteria like situation. Please dont be negative and be optismitic,it is not America's desire its our desire to live with peace permanentaly.
Nikki ji:
Some of comments are desperate by my Indian fellows, those people really want real peace and happiness they should not be disappointed and they should move forward despite their criticisim. I appreciate Prime Minister Nawaz Sahrif for having bold steps.I wish his policy of flexible toward India will bring chill for many Indinas and Pakistani. We all want ecnomic blast and boost and that is possible only if hard liners stop commenting nagatively.
" It is important in Islam and other religions as well to be neighbourly, Nawaz added." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Must be a recent tenet...where was it in 1999 when Kargil took place?
US ordered him to make nice with india!!!
i as a lot of indians had spent lot of time researching on pak and the issues.
conclusion-INDIANS should left pakistan to its state and must focus on china ,thats where the action is.We need to neutralize the venom of past 66 years and must assure the pakistanis that we are not going to invade you,we will be happy working with you and as a pakistani they must also introspect that its HINDU/SIKHS who have lost more than muslims,although no one can measure the pain.
PS-HINDUS/SIKHS must remember history(INDIA is secular because its hindu/sikh majority) but they should also have an eye over future.PEACE with pakistan is in supreme national interest of INDIA and trust for 1 time there are real signs which are +ve from across the border and pakistani ppl are lovely ppl .
Hope i can travel one day to lahore and eat karahai meat in annarkali market
@alladitta:
Nobody can stop to anybody to live in peace, you are no body ,both persons are mature enough they know better what is good for them,
INDIA desperately wants peace no doubt abt that & we as nation you shuld move forward towards it but we need to be fully aware of our punitive strategy in case of another 26/11.
VISA regime must be relaxed so that ppl from both side can interact freely,trade will get instant boost,pakistan will get almost $2billion dollars as overland charges by allowing cargo and india can reach central asia & INDIA can look to shift its troops from western borders to the HIMALYAN heights.
PAKISTAN must change its narrative and must not see HINDUS/SIKHS as monsters.This mindset of it has lead to the current shape it is in.the establishment(GHQ) thinks that it can somehow snatch kashmir through PRC help and they will aid pak against INDIA.WELL if USA couldnt get you KASHMIR,trust me china has no chance vat so ever.This strategy will lead to annihilation of pak as a nation state and INDIA will loose DELHI,MUMBAI surely (in wrost case scenario).need to avoid this
PS-FULLY AGREE WITH INDRA EXCEPT THE COMMENT ABT WOMEN.ITS WAY BELOW DIGNITY.I APOLOGIZE TO ALL MY PAK FRIENDS.
@Baloch Southall UK: Spot on my brother. I am surprised how your comment was approved as generally pro pakistani comments are not approved here
@Indra: Dream on .... Most commentators here are indians (look at the names & comments), indians have interest in pakistan. While, most pakistanis are not bothered about india, do you ever see pakistanis commenting on indian news sites ??? Altaf Hussain and Nawaz Sharif are not considered pakistanis
Your new mass murderer PM hates muslims anyways
RESIGN NAWAZ SHARIF !!!
We are facing 1000 more important issues and this man is discussing about visa restrictions with India ??? Lets hope the next drone lands at his Raiwand Palace so that he wakes up !!!
@Indra @Gp 65 You are absolutely right.
@Nikki: You and your ilk are not allowed. Scoot.
I condemn Indra's view. Unfortunatly, fanatic mind set exisiting both side. I support Nikki and her Indian Fellow.San person and sensible peopel in India and Pakistan must support Mr. Sharif's policy for PEACE..
@Indra: We must avoide to dig out the past, let meet the people.Peace is useful our generations. Please do not represnt India as whoel. Our people aslo want hapy and progessive relations and want to get rid of tension.
@indra So you want visa relaxation for only pakistani women. I think that's not a good idea as reputation of india is not really good when it comes to security of women. Although I think indian women will be very safe in Pakistan as no on will look twice at them in Pakistan.
Dear PM! A lot of water has passed under the bridges since 1947. India is a different place now either it be culturally or socially. Pakistanis and indians even look different from each other after 66 years of separation. I have extensively traveled both countries and this is my conclusion that there should be no visa freedom between the two countries. Just focus on home issues first before reaching out across the border. We are a different nation now and our border controls are good for our own sake.
Pakistan wants (read needs) peace with India, there should not be any visa restrictions. Ohh right, so that you can transfer your peace-keepers to India. You guys have already choose what you wanted out of India in 1947.So now you guys should just chill out peacefully in your land of pure ,while we do the same on our side. Peace :D
@Nikki congratulations
ETBLOGS1987
Actions speak louder than words. Just as your own countrymen do not believe you on drones, so also few in India believe your words when your actions are different.
1) you talk of peace and yet your brother fund JuD in the Punjab budget
2) you talk of trade and yet fail to honor the MFN commitment that previous overnment's had made in lieu of India waiving the objection at WTO to EU concessions for Pakistan. Something that PPP had agreed to implement by December 2012
3) you talk about people to people contacts. Yet while India has implemented the agreement between our FOs to give visa on arrival to those above 65, Pakistan has failed to do so.
4)) the LoC had got considerably escalated under your watch starting with the ambush and killing of 5 of our soldiers and you were trying to use this violence to extract more concessions for foreign office without even having reciprocated earlier commitment
Yes, you had a window of opportunity where people were willing to overlook your Kargill perfidy and believe that you were a new leaf. But your actions towards India since you have returned to power, show that a leopard does not change spots. Even the most right wing Indian is not interested in India starting a war. But if you think you can lull anyone into complacense with your empty words and recreate the 90s once US withdraws from Afghanistan - news flash: the world has changed. Focus on fixing your country. As long as your soldiers or non-state actors do not hurt Indians, please rest assured of peace on your eastern border. If you expect more unilateral concessions, you will surely be disappointed.
I made some many indian friend while I was in uk and one of them is my best mate. I really hope I could go visit him someday.
India doesnt want peace with us. Get over them for God Sakes!
don't cry foul. ur actual face we know.
@ Indra:
You cant simply stop ppl to stop fell in love,u know many Indians ahve already run away from India just to have peace, and economic prosperity. You give them love your pple will stay in India will not settle down in other country. Love has no borders and does not need VISAAAAAAAAAAAAAS ect. Couple will be away from hate and enimity.
Peace with India?
Zaid Hamid and Hamid Gul are probably having a hissy-fit right now.
MFN or no MFN status to India from Pakistan makes no difference to India. India should not even be raising the issue of MFN with Pakistan. If Pakistan decides to give MFN to India, let them do it on their own, whenever they think it is appropriate or beneficial to them. It would be wise for India to concentrate its efforts towards building economic relationship with the rest of the world. It would yield India much greater economic returns than MFN from Pakistan.
On removal of visa restrictions, it should be done only after Pakistan takes care of terrorism in its own territory. Otherwise, India would be spending a lot more on surveillance and keeping tab on Pakistanis visiting India. When Pakistan do even minor things like removal of hate literature from its school textbooks, it is meaningless to issue statements of peace with neighbors and it would be madness for India to trust on these statements.
Credibility issue attached with Nawaz ,Kargil episode is fresh in mind of GOI. Any Administration of India involved in peace with Pakistan will do HARAKIRI for sure. Mr. Nawaz ,Peace with India is now distant dream. Advice from Devil. First Put Pakistan on civilized Nation path. Improve economy by removing terror tied up. Educate Army and spy agency. improve trust base of intl community.
Without above steps ,Any peace deal with India not going to be last forever. But I don't see you or any contemporary leader can save Pakistan from disaster waiting to happen.
We always knew that you were pro Indian just like Imran Khan is pro Taliban. Amazing how people of your party tag others with name calling but you seems to be some what clean. Shame on you.
I post here only when I see any news item about Pakistanis visiting India. Because it scares me.
The way things are going in Pakistan, it should be made much harder for Pakistanis to visit India. Hope sanity prevails. You are looking at increased security threats and illegal immigration. For heavens sake, may God show mercy on humanity!? Pakistanis need quarantine. Not increased travel to anywhere except May be Saudi Arabia.
@Nikki Wish you a very happy and prosperous married life well in advance. and welcome to India
Ok, only Pak woman allowed, Mummedans not allowed, not even the most moderate form, we have enough of owaisi's and our fair share of Mullahs here, even though, after partition it was unjust upon us to be semi mullafied.We dont want ur visa, thanks.Because tomorrow, someone will say, re-union; what a farce.British administered India, Bharata, Saka are all different entities even though some bordering tribes may share cultural similiarities(like Iran-Baloch and U). We are not one.inviting more talibs in!!!!!..nawaz, we will co-op with u, trade with u, do whatever it takes to hold peace.Dont ask for more, leave India alone. And to be very Frank, Pakistan and Bangladesh after receiving their fair share of land are still trying to infiltrate from everywhere, diplomatically and illegaly as well. Arent you people ashamed?.People too, please stop falling in love ;/, just be friends.I had a hawt Pakistani "friend" and appreciate everything about the woman.But I wouldnt never ask her whole village to move in India, for if they do..I know, it will destroy my land in the future.Indians commenting here need to start thinking on a civilization scale and think how our ancestors fought for a thousand years against the full power of the Caliphate, dont you remember that story?freedom came at a high cost my friends, at a very high cost.I think we are forgetting+ now a days
visa restrictions between the two countries should be removed.. So that we can send across the animals wandering in the name of TTP in batches so that they can rule the roost in India... Looking forward for many more 26/11 in India which remains our arch enemy... Let's use our strategic assets..
@ NIkki: Nikki bibi its better to fell in love with Pakistani man and take him out,it will be more easy to settle in other countries, and it will make also sense to leave this country.
This circus lion is only trying to save his suger mills and looted wealth. He should be ashamed for calling himself Kashmiri
I appreciate Prime Minister of Pakistan's statement regarding VISA RISTRICTION REMOVAL. I have seen people are suffering in India even to visit Pakistan where their beloved living for decades. Once visia resrction is removed, believe me peace will prevail and that wil be everlasting.Let people meet.
@Nikki:
We pray both India-Pakistan have peace for the sack of people.
@ reality: face express is ok, the woman is host/compare, so should not be doubted at all.
Such hypocrite. Indians kill Kashmiris daily, nothing is reported. More than 70,000 casualties there, women and children are raped daily and he wants to make peace? Grant them Most Favoured Nation. Where are the PTI bashers now? Their stance with India is for peace, a nation who has ALWAYS been Pakistan's enemy. Their stance against Taliban(not TTP) is of annihilation, a group whose leader itself was raised in Pakistan, and all of them profoundly respected and supported Pakistan till we ourselves started killing them under American pressure. Such hypocrisy, and my people do not see through.
@Nikki: I have sympathy with you that you are in LOVE with an Indian guy,theGovt will have no issues from both sides, most rpobably, both sides extremists and the enemy of peace-love will not allow flexible visa restrictions. So go a head and live happily. WIsh ur success and PM's wish for visa removal restrictions.
Mr. NS weren't you playing politics at these key issues during last 5 years?? Now how can you bar others?
Look at the face expression women behind ..speak alot :)
"Politics should be treated separately from the economy and anti-terrorism efforts, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif" So why did Punjab government paid $650,000 to Jamate Ul Dawa a front for LeT as it is clearly marked in 2013-2014 budget?
"Politics should be treated separately from the economy and anti-terrorism efforts, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif" Correct statement is: Politics should be treated separately from the religion, economy and anti-terrorism efforts, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
So basically he is saying....I have failed to deliver on economy and security situation...but please don't blame me! What a sher!
No Mr.PM our politicians can't separate the politics from petty gains. Just see what has been happening in Karachi and today in KPK where the dharna is being staged against the US while the FIR has been registered against "Na maloom afrad" for Hungo Drone attacks.
The bottom line is that GOP and Pakistanis are simply not capable of making any kind of policy. Be it war on terror or economy.
What he is saying is dont play politics on the subject of currency notes printing.
Plz do remove visa ristrictions ( both sides), I am in love with an Indian fellow and we both have planned to marry.Otherwise, we will be sttled in 3rd countries. Mr. PM. please do have constructive and materialized work.Like me, there are many ppl those want to be tied.