Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has clarified his stance on initiating talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss important issues like Kashmir and said talks will be possible only after reversal of abrogation of Article 370.
India abrogated Article 370 on 5 August 2019 ending the special status that Jammu and Kashmir enjoyed for several decades. Pakistan has decried the move since then.
The Pakistan PMO said that Prime Minister Sharif had consistently maintained that Pakistan and India must resolve their bilateral issues through dialogue and peaceful means, but only after India revokes its decision on Kashmir.
Pakistan Prime Minister Message To Indian Prime Minister
“My message to the Indian leadership and Prime Minister Modi is that let’s sit down on the table and have serious and sincere talks to resolve our burning points like Kashmir. It is up to us to live peacefully and make progress or quarrel with each other and waste time and resources,” PM Shehbaz Sharif said.
In a series of tweets, the Pakistan PMO has clarified that PM Sharif had made it clear that talks with India will be possible only when the neighbor reverses the abrogation of Article 370 that grants autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir.
“In ref. to PM Shehbaz Sharif’s interview to Al Arabiya, the spokesman of the PM Office has said the PM has consistently maintained that Pakistan & India must resolve their bilateral issues, especially the core issue of Jammu & Kashmir, through dialogue and peaceful means,” the Pakistan PMO tweeted.
The settlement of the Kashmir dispute must be in accordance with the UN resolutions & aspirations of people of Jammu & Kashmir.
The Spokespman said that the Prime Minister made this position very clear in his interview with Al Arabiya news during his recent visit to the UAE. 3/3— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) January 17, 2023
“However the Prime Minister has repeatedly stated on record that talks can only take place after India has reversed its illegal action (sic) of August 5, 2019. Without India’s revocation of this step, negotiations are not possible,” it said, adding “The settlement of the Kashmir dispute must be in accordance with the UN resolutions & aspirations of people of Jammu & Kashmir. The Spokesman said that the Prime Minister made this position very clear in his interview with Al Arabiya news during his recent visit to the UAE.”
The Pakistan Prime Minister said since India and Pakistan are neighbor there is no choice but to work with each other to resolve long standing issues.
PM Shehbaz Sharif said that his message to his counterpart was that his party does not want to spend funds on ammunition and bombs but wants to alleviate poverty and end unemployment.
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