Sharif advocates better engagement ties with India and eliminates tension between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue and terrorism activities. Both the countries wish to achieve meaningful engagement for the progress and prosperity of people.
Pakistan’s newly elected Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, wrote to the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, wishing to build a better engagement between the rival countries. In his letter to the PM of India, Sharif pitches for “normal neighborly relations” between both countries. However, this sudden interest in improving bilateral ties is a ground for caution.
Sharif’s letter was in response to the congratulatory message sent by PM Modi on his latest win. In his letter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mentioned that India desires to resolve issues, build constructive ties, and work towards socio-economic development with Pakistan. PM Shehbaz Sharif, in his letter, noted, “We believe that peaceful and cooperative ties between Pakistan and India are imperative for progress and socio-economic uplift of our people and the region.”
Learning from the failures of the previous prime ministers on the so-called Kashmir Issue with India, Shehbaz Sharif talked about the never implemented 1948 UNSC resolution on Jammu and Kashmir in his letter to his Indian counterpart. Considered a hardcore realist, the new Pakistani Prime Minister has earned a good reputation for leaving no stones unturned to perform onerous tasks.
Earlier in his tweet, PM Modi said, ”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 Shebaz Sharif said, ”This can be best achieved through meaningful engagement and peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes.”
No formal talks have happened between India and Pakistan for years now since the Pathankot airbase attack by Jaish-E-Mohammed in January 2016. The conditions worsened after the Pulwama attack in 2019 and India’s counter-response by pounding warplanes on Jaish-E-Mohammed’s training camp. The bilateral relations deteriorated further after India announced withdrawing special powers of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 and disecting the state into two union territories.
India has been maintaining its statement that the government wishes to resolve the issues between the rival countries and create an environment free of terror for peaceful engagement that could help focus on the progress and development of people from both countries. However, there are further challenges to building a constructive relationship between both countries. Nevertheless, to begin with, the initiatives by both the prime ministers could broaden an opening for a brighter future and stability for the people residing in both countries.
Published By – Chirag Agrawal
Edited By – Dhannyaa Menon
