Ties with India: Pakistan wants relationship based on self-respect, says Nawaz
Says we have always been keen to resolve all issues through meaningful dialogue
ON BOARD THE PRIME MINISTER’S AIRCRAFT:
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said Pakistan wants ties with India on the basis of dignity, self-respect and honour and desires ‘meaningful’ dialogue to resolve all issues including the Kashmir dispute.
Talking to reporters accompanying him back from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit, the prime minister said India should not have cancelled the foreign secretary level talks in August.
“We had been talking to the Kashmiri leaders in the past, whenever Pakistan-India talks are held. This is nothing new as we have to seek the opinion of the Kashmiri leaders, on an issue that concerns them the most,” he said.
Premier Nawaz said Pakistan wishes to pursue talks from a position of dignity, honour and self-respect. “We believe in it and will maintain it at all costs.”
He said Pakistan has always sincerely desired meaningful dialogue with India and wants it to be reciprocated from the other side. However, he categorically stated that “if India wants to restore ties, the Kashmir issue must be discussed and that too seriously, with full sincerity.”
The prime minister recalled the number of deaths in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) due to unprovoked firing by the Indian troops along the Line of Control and working boundary. To a question, he said this issue would also be taken up with India when the talks resume.
He reiterated his stance that since it was India that called off the talks, the onus of starting the dialogue lies with it.
Nawaz, when questioned about the November 30 protest call by Imran Khan, said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief was pursuing a ‘personal agenda’ which was targeting the progress and development of Pakistan.
He said the people of Pakistan have rejected the politics of negativity as they know who was sincere to the welfare of the masses and committed to the progress and development of Pakistan.
“Did the people give them [PTI] votes so that they could hold Pakistan hostage or to go to the assemblies to play their role of a healthy opposition,” he asked. “Their only objective is to get my resignation,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2014.
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said Pakistan wants ties with India on the basis of dignity, self-respect and honour and desires ‘meaningful’ dialogue to resolve all issues including the Kashmir dispute.
Talking to reporters accompanying him back from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit, the prime minister said India should not have cancelled the foreign secretary level talks in August.
“We had been talking to the Kashmiri leaders in the past, whenever Pakistan-India talks are held. This is nothing new as we have to seek the opinion of the Kashmiri leaders, on an issue that concerns them the most,” he said.
Premier Nawaz said Pakistan wishes to pursue talks from a position of dignity, honour and self-respect. “We believe in it and will maintain it at all costs.”
He said Pakistan has always sincerely desired meaningful dialogue with India and wants it to be reciprocated from the other side. However, he categorically stated that “if India wants to restore ties, the Kashmir issue must be discussed and that too seriously, with full sincerity.”
The prime minister recalled the number of deaths in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) due to unprovoked firing by the Indian troops along the Line of Control and working boundary. To a question, he said this issue would also be taken up with India when the talks resume.
He reiterated his stance that since it was India that called off the talks, the onus of starting the dialogue lies with it.
Nawaz, when questioned about the November 30 protest call by Imran Khan, said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief was pursuing a ‘personal agenda’ which was targeting the progress and development of Pakistan.
He said the people of Pakistan have rejected the politics of negativity as they know who was sincere to the welfare of the masses and committed to the progress and development of Pakistan.
“Did the people give them [PTI] votes so that they could hold Pakistan hostage or to go to the assemblies to play their role of a healthy opposition,” he asked. “Their only objective is to get my resignation,” he said.
The premier said the nation should ask Imran why he wants to “destabilise the country, [and] create poverty, unemployment and chaos.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2014.
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