Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reciprocated to a letter by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and called for peace and cooperation between the two countries. The newly elected prime minister called for peace and cooperation and socio-economic development of the two neighbouring countries, sources said.
PM Modi had sent a letter of congratulations to Shehbaz Sharif emphasising that India desired constructive ties with his country, according to reports on April 14. The Indian prime minister had emphasised that India desired constructive ties with Islamabad.
However, no dramatic turnaround in ties was expected unless Pakistan addressed the issue of cross-border terrorism, reports quoted government insiders as saying.
Earlier on April 12, Shehbaz Sharif had responded to PM Modi’s tweet and said that Pakistan desires peaceful and cooperative ties with India. He had also called for peaceful settlement of the ‘Kashmir dispute’ and fight against terrorism.
“Thank you Premier Narendra Modi for felicitations. Pakistan desires peaceful & cooperative ties with India. Peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes including Jammu & Kashmir is indispensable. Pakistan’s sacrifices in fighting terrorism are well-known. Let’s secure peace and focus on socio-economic development of our people,” Shehbaz Sharif said in a tweet.
https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1513802562520367105?s=20&t=idQoCkNR58iZYoz9IFZf-w
Sharif’s tweet comes almost a day after PM Modi’s congratulatory message on April 11.
“Congratulations to H. E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people,” Prime Minister Modi had said.
Earlier on Monday, Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif, was elected unopposed as the prime minister of Pakistan following weeks of drama over a no-confidence motion. Soon after his election, PM Modi congratulated Shehbaz Sharif in a tweet. “Congratulations to H. E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people,” PM Modi tweeted.
India can, however, look at Sharif’s tenure with cautious optimism. Shehbaz Sharif was also the former chief minister of Punjab and is known in Pakistan’s political circles as an able administrator. He also has acted secularly when minorities have been attacked in Pakistan, especially during the Khanewal mob lynching case. He also wishes the Hindu community on festivals like he did during Holi this year.
https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1504713711868645376?s=20&t=hWZIVPOVrgA52KDvz7s_3Q
Nawaz Sharif, the former Pakistan PM and his elder brother batted for better India-Pakistan ties and even hosted PM Modi but the Pakistan deep state, led by the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), spoiled the attempt at developing bilateral ties when in 2016 the Pathankot airbase was attacked by Pakistan sponsored-terrorists. Nawaz Sharif was also keen on hosting industrialists from India and hosted Indian steel magnate Sajjan Jindal in 2017 but instead of helping boost economic ties the Pakistan army followed by helping the opposition mount criticism on the PML-N government for conducting a meeting, which could have helped rebuild ties.
The Sharifs have batted for amicable ties between New Delhi and Islamabad but whether it will bow down to the whims of the ISI and the Pakistan Army remains to be seen.
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