ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has written a letter to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, seeking peaceful resolution of all issues including long-standing Kashmir dispute between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
In response to the letter sent by Modi to Shehbaz congratulating him on becoming the prime minister, the premier said Pakistan is committed to regional peace and stability.
Peaceful and cooperative ties between the two nations are indispensable for the prosperity of the people, he added.
Pakistan’s sacrifices and efforts to eradicate the menace of terrorism are well-known and have been recognised globally, Shehbaz told Modi.
On Tuesday, PM Shehbaz thanked Indian premier Narendra Modi for felicitations on becoming the 23rd prime minister of Pakistan as he sought peaceful resolution of conflicts between India and Pakistan for the sake of socio-economic development of people.
The newly elected prime minister made these remarks in response to the message shared by Modi on Twitter wherein he congratulated the Pakistani premier on getting elected as the new chief executive.
“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,” Modi had written on Twitter a day earlier.
In his response shared on Twitter, PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan desired peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir. “Pakistan’s sacrifices in fighting terrorism are well-known,” Shehbaz told the Indian premier.
During his speech in parliament after becoming the premier with the support of 174 lawmakers, Shehbaz offered an olive branch to New Delhi, saying that Pakistan wanted a “better relationship with India”.
But he had also cautioned that no lasting peace would be possible without a resolution to Kashmir’s status. “I would suggest Prime Minister Modi let us resolve the Kashmir issue and divert all our energies to bring prosperity to our countries,” he had said.
–Agencies
