Pakan PM Shehbaz Sharif expresses desire for peaceful ties with India, Kashmir issue resolution
Pakan Prime Miner Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his desire for peaceful relations with India based on the principles of “equity, justice and mutual respect” and the resolution of the Kashmir issue, according to a media report on Friday.
Sharif also urged the international community to play a “facilitative role” to ensure durable peace and stability in South Asia, it said, amidst a chill in bilateral ties over the Kashmir issue and cross border terrorism emanating from Pakan.
Sharif expressed these views during a meeting with the newly-appointed Australian High Commissioner to Pakan, Neil Hawkins, on Thursday, the Dawn Newspaper quoted the Prime Miner’s Office (PMO) as saying.
“Pakan desires peaceful ties with India, based on the principles of equity, justice and mutual respect. In this context, a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people, was indispensable,” Sharif said.
“The international community has to play a facilitative role in this regard, as it was essential for durable peace and stability in South Asia,” he said.
India has repeatedly told Pakan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence. India has said the onus is on Pakan to create an environment free of terror and hostility.
The bilateral ties deteriorated further after India announced withdrawing the special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two union territories in August 2019.
India has repeatedly told Pakan that Jammu and Kashmir “was, is and shall forever” remain an integral part of the country. It also advised Pakan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.
