IN REMARKS viewed as conciliatory in Delhi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for “serious and sincere conversations‘ with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on ‘burning issues like Kashmir’. He also said his country has learned its lesson after three wars with India that “have only brought more misery, poverty and unemployment” and wants peace with its neighbor.
In an interview with Dubai-based Al Arabiya TV, Sharif asked for the intervention of UAE Ruler Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to bring India and Pakistan together for talks. He said he had given his “word of honour” that he would speak to the Indian side with “sincere intention”.
Noting that India and Pakistan are nuclear powers, the Pakistani PM asked, “If war breaks out, who will be alive to tell what happened?”
After the interview was tweeted by Pakistan’s ruling party, Sharif’s PML(N), his office took a firmer line, saying he has consistently maintained that Pakistan and India should resolve their bilateral issues, particularly the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir, through dialogue and dialogue would have to be resolved by peaceful means.
“My message to the Indian leadership and Prime Minister Modi is that we sit down around the table and have serious and sincere talks to resolve our burning issues like Kashmir. It’s up to us to live peacefully and make progress or quarrel with each other and waste time and resources,” Sharif said in the interview.
“We have had three wars with India and they have only brought more misery, poverty and unemployment to the people. We have learned our lesson and want to live in peace with India provided we can solve our real problems,” he said.
“India is our neighboring country, we are neighbors. Let’s be completely frank, even if we are not willing neighbors, we are here forever and it is up to us to live peacefully and make progress or quarrel with each other and waste time and resources. It’s up to us,” he said.
In Ref. on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s interview with Al Arabiya, the Prime Minister’s Office spokesman said the Prime Minister has consistently maintained that Pakistan and India must resolve their bilateral issues, particularly the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir, through dialogue and peaceful means. 1/3
— Office of the Prime Minister (@PakPMO) January 17, 2023
Sharif also raised the issue of Kashmir, saying “Pakistan wants peace, but what is happening in Kashmir should be stopped”. He claimed that “blatant violations of human rights are taking place in Kashmir on a daily basis”, reiterating the Pakistani line rejected by India.
Sharif said the Kashmiri people deserved “every semblance of autonomy given to Kashmiris in the constitution under Article 370, which was revoked in August 2019”.
Sharif also addressed another issue that has widened the rift between the two countries, claiming that “minorities are being grossly mistreated over there” – another allegation India has repeatedly denied.
Explained
Pakistani Prime Minister’s comments on China’s lifting of the bloc to list LeT’s deputy chief as a global terrorist are seen as an important signal to Delhi. India has welcomed the terror list but has remained silent on Sharif’s statements. Delhi will closely monitor the interaction between the Pakistani civilian government and the army before taking any action.
“I won’t go into details, suffice it to say this has to stop for the message to go around the world that India is ready to hold talks and that we are more than ready,” he said.
Sharif said both countries have engineers, doctors and skilled workers. “We want to use these resources for prosperity and peace in the region so both nations can grow… Pakistan does not want to waste resources on bombs and ammunition. We are nuclear powers, armed to the teeth, and if, God forbid, war breaks out, who will be alive to tell what happened?” he said.
Sharif described the UAE ruler as a “brother of Pakistan” who has “good relations with India”.
“He can play a very important role in bringing the two countries together. And I give my word of honor that we will speak to Indians with sincere intention, but it takes two to tango.” Sharif clapped his hands to underscore the point.
In a later statement, Sharif’s office said: “Regarding Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s interview to Kanal Al Arabiya, the spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office said that the Prime Minister had repeatedly claimed that Pakistan and India needed to resolve their bilateral issues , particularly the core issue of Jammu & Kashmir, through dialogue and peaceful means”.
It said: “However, the Prime Minister has repeatedly stated that talks can only take place after India reverses its illegal action of August 5, 2019; without India’s revocation of this step, negotiations are not possible. The settlement of the Kashmir dispute must be in accordance with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”