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The visit of the EAM of India to Pakistan is a new beginning : Former PM of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif

Islamabad (Pakistan) – External Affairs Minister of India Dr S. Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan is just the beginning. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif emphasised the need for India and Pakistan to “bury” the past to move beyond their historical conflicts and focus on building better future relations. He made these remarks to a group of Indian journalists, praising Indian EAM S Jaishankar’s recent visit to Islamabad as a positive step. Sharif, who has served as Pakistan’s PM three times, described Jaishankar’s trip as a “good opening” and called for both nations to engage in constructive dialogue. “We can’t change our neighbours, neither can Pakistan nor can India. We should live like good neighbours,” he said. He was talking to Indian journalists on 17thOctober on the sidelines of the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Sharif further said,

1. If Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had come here, it would have been better. However, Dr Jaishankar came, that too went well. We have lost 75 years, now we need to think about the next 75 years.

Sharif also reflected positively on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unexpected visit to Lahore in December 2015. He expressed his disappointment over the stalled relations since then, urging both countries to look forward. “We must pick up the threads of our conversation. We should not let this go on for the next 70 years,” Sharif added.

2. Pakistan’s relations with India soured due to the vulgar language used by former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan against Narendra Modi. Let alone speak such language; but leaders should not even think like that.

3. I tried to improve relations between the two countries; but it deteriorated again and again.

4.Sharif noted that the tension in relations escalated due to various events, including terror attacks in India by Pakistan-based groups in 2016. He offered to play a bridge-building role and stressed the importance of not “Going to the past” but instead focusing on the future. “It would be better if we bury the past so that we can use the potential between the two countries,” he suggested.

5. My father’s birth certificate says Amritsar, India. Our culture is similar. Although the leaders are not on good terms, the people of both the countries have a good relationship with each other.

6. Cricket relations between India and Pakistan should be re-established. We have no advantage in not sending teams to each other’s countries.

7. Why should Indian and Pakistani farmers and producers go elsewhere to sell their goods ? Now the goods go from Amritsar to Dubai via Lahore. Who is benefitting from this ?

Editorial Perspective

If Pakistan wants to improve its relations with India, Pakistan must eliminate the Jihadi terrorism that is operating from its soil. Along with this, notorious terrorists like Dawood Ibrahim, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Hafiz Saeed should be handed over to India and its claim on Kashmir should be withdrawn !

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