Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister of Pakistan, expressed his displeasure with the “long pause” in the two nations’ ties.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad was a “good opening” to improve relations between the neighboring countries, according to former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday.
globalnews99.comS Jaishankar’s visit, Nawaz Sharif
S Jaishankar became the first Indian foreign minister to visit Pakistan in the past nine years on Tuesday, amid ongoing tensions between the two countries, when he traveled to Islamabad on a nearly 24-hour journey to attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conclave.
Nawaz Sharif, a three-time prime minister and president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N), told a gathering of Indian journalists that both sides should now speak and take action.
While applauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unexpected visit to Lahore in December 2015, Nawaz Sharif expressed his displeasure with the “long-pause” in the two nations’ relations and hoped that both parties would take a constructive stance.
“Neither Pakistan nor India can influence our neighbors. “As good neighbors, we should live,” the 74-year-old leader stated.
“This war has lasted for 70 years, and we shouldn’t let it to continue for another 70 years. Following the arrival of S Jaishankar, Nawaz Sharif urged reporters that both parties should get together and talk about the future.
Additionally, Nawaz Sharif criticized former Prime Minister Imran Khan for the current breakdown in communication between the two countries, citing his remarks against Prime Minister Modi in particular.
“Imran Khan used words that destroyed the relationship – as leaders of the two countries and neighbours, we should not even think, let alone utter such words,” Nawaz Shari stated, alluding to a post that Imran Khan made in September 2018 that purportedly targeted Modi.
Along with highlighting the significance of resuming trade and cricket between the two nations as a way to defrost the chilly relationship, Sharif has also expressed his desire to be active in bridging the gap between them.
Following the 2019 Pulwama assault, the Indian government placed high levies on imports from Pakistan, which resulted in the suspension of trade between the two nations since 2019.