Time for 'new beginning' in bilateral ties: Pakistani high commissioner to India

Abdul Basit says both countries can benefit by coming together

NEW DELHI: Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on Thursday said that India is a “very important neighbour,” adding that it was unfortunate that the two countries have had a “chequered history" of relations. But, the time had come to walk past the narratives of the past and make a new beginning, IBN Live reported.

Basit was inaugurating a lifestyle exhibition, ‘Aalishan Pakistan’, jointly organised by FICCI and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in New Delhi.

“When our two countries come together, the sky is the limit,” he said.

"We can benefit from each other and if we were to establish a relationship that is based on mutual respect and mutual benefits, there is no way we cannot really perform miracles," he added.

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj claimed that there might be a window for resumption of talks with Pakistan.

"There is no full stop in diplomacy; it's always commas and semi-colons. And, after all this, people always move forward. There are no full stops in diplomatic journeys,” she said.

Addressing the issue of the floods in Kashmir, Basit said that authorities on both sides are working to overcome the disaster.

"I think our two leaders have exchanged letters and let's hope that authorities on both sides are working to overcome the challenge," Basit said.

"We have already sent a reply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has already sent a reply. That reply itself spoke volumes of Pakistan's interest in working together to overcome this environment of climate change challenges," he added.