Categories: World

Pakistan’s olive branch to India—letter from Shehbaz Sharif to PM Modi proposes “meaningful engagement”

<p>
Pakistan’s new prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has sought peaceful ties with India and wants to resolve all issues, including Kashmir, with New Delhi with “meaningful engagement.”</p>
<p>
In a letter written to the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, Sharif In the letter, Sharif said socio-economic development of the people of the two countries as well as the region can be achieved through meaningful India-Pakistan engagement and peaceful resolution of “all outstanding disputes” including that of Jammu and Kashmir. He further wrote that a  “peaceful and cooperative” ties between Pakistan and India are imperative for the  socio-economic development of the people of the two countries and the region.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">
Shahbaz Sharif has written a letter to his Indian counterpart <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a><br />
The letter also stated that Pakistan wants peaceful relations with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> <a href="https://t.co/wNVtW4a6Ru">pic.twitter.com/wNVtW4a6Ru</a></p>
— Mughees Ali (@mugheesali81) <a href="https://twitter.com/mugheesali81/status/1515722811930677250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>
Sharif’s letter was  in response to a missive from Modi congratulating him on his election as the Pakistani prime minister.</p>
<p>
"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 wrote in his Twitter post.</p>
<p>
Responding to the tweet, the new PM Sharif  said: "Thank you Premier Narendra Modi for felicitations. Pakistan desires peaceful & cooperative ties with India. Peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes including Jammu & Kashmir is indispensable. "Let's secure peace and focus on socio-economic development of our people," wrote Shehbaz Sharif.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">
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.. <a href="https://t.co/0M1wxhhvjV">https://t.co/0M1wxhhvjV</a></p>
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1513802562520367105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>
Earlier, Pakistan has granted an extension to India for the transportation of wheat and life-saving medicines to Afghanistan via Pakistan.</p>
<p>
“The time period granted for transportation of humanitarian assistance expired on March 21, 2022. The Government of India recently requested for extension in time period to complete the transportation process,” said the Pakistani foreign office on Sunday.</p>
<p>
According to Pakistani watchers, there is a possibility of thaw as both the leaders of India and Pakistan indicate in their communication. Though the rhetoric around Kashmir in Pakistan’s politics also means that more often than not, bilateral ties end up taking two steps back for every step forward.</p>
<p>
The ceasefire agreement – the peace has largely been held since February 2021 – made room for continuing discussion on “core concerns” while allowing cooperation wherever possible but former Prime Minister Imran Khan, seeking to forge an anti-India Islamic front with countries such as Turkey and Malaysia, made it clear that “there can be no normalisation of relations with India until reversal of changes made by India in J&K before resuming trade”.</p>
<p>
The all-powerful Pakistani army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, again signalled that Pakistan is ready to move forward if India agrees to do so in the first week of this month when it became certain that Imran Khan is out. India in any case , more than words, would be looking for meaningful action, including restraining terror groups inside Kashmir marshalled by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan’s spy agency/</p>
<p>
<strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/with-obstacle-imran-khan-out-of-the-way-pak-army-chief-reaches-out-to-india-to-resolve-kashmir-161571.html">With obstacle Imran Khan out of the way, Pak army chief reaches out to India to resolve Kashmir</a></strong></p>
<p>
In his keynote address on April 2 at the Islamabad Security Dialogue (ISD), Bajwa said that while modernising the Pakistani military, Pakistan’s emphasis will be on geoeconomics: development and connectivity, and peace with neighbours, especially India.</p>
<p>
“Pakistan will benefit if we improve ties with India. We have wasted 70 years; it is time to move on. Let us sit down and resolve our issues including Kashmir. We want development first. Pakistan is working on north to south (Pakistan to Afghanistan to central Asian republics and Russia) connectivity. We also want east to west (India to Iran) connectivity and trade which will benefit both Pakistan and India,” Bajwa said.</p>
<p>
India has been maintaining that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan while insisting that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment free of terror and hostility for such an engagement.</p>
<p>
<strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/india-s-message-to-new-pak-pm-shehbaz-sharif-curb-terrorism-and-we-are-with-you-163775.html">India’s message to new Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif – Curb terrorism and we are with you</a></strong></p>

Mrityunjoy Kumar Jha

Mrityunjoy Kumar Jha has decades of field experience in covering global terrorism, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. He is also an enthusiastic wildlife photographer.

Recent Posts

VINBAX 2024: Vietnam-India bilateral army exercise concludes at Kaushalya Dam

The fifth edition of the historic Indo-Vietnam Joint Field Training Exercise, VINBAX-2024, successfully concluded its…

10 hours ago

India-Russia strengthen defence ties at 22nd Working Group meeting on military technical cooperation

The 22nd meeting of the India-Russia Working Group on Military technical cooperation and defence industry…

10 hours ago

“I want to have strong representation of India at World Nuclear Exhibition 2025”: Sylvie Bermann

Sylvie Bermann, President of the World Nuclear Exhibition expressed confidence in India's nuclear supply chain…

11 hours ago

PoJK: Joint Awami Action Committee protests against government following new ordinance, many injured

Joint Awami Action Committee core member Shaukat Nawaz Mir has condemned the attack of police…

12 hours ago

PM Modi meets 31 world leaders, heads of organisations during his 3-nation foreign visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in 31 Bilateral Meetings and informal interactions with global leaders…

14 hours ago

India- Australia conduct 11th Indian Air Force-Royal Australian Air Force Air Staff Talks

India and Australia conducted the 11th edition of the Indian Air Force and Royal Australian…

14 hours ago