New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has conveyed a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he is ready for “serious and sincere talks” to resolve “burning” issues like Kashmir.
He also suggested that the UAE could play a mediating role between the two regional countries.
In a 17-minute interview with Dubai-based Al Arabiya TV Monday night, he said: “My message to the Indian leadership and Prime Minister Modi is let’s sit down on the table and have serious and sincere talks to resolve our burning issues like Kashmir. Flagrant violations of human rights are taking place there,” he said, adding that India and Pakistan are nuclear powers.
“Pakistan has learnt its lesson. We had three wars with India and they only brought more misery, unemployment, poverty…”
Sharif arrived in Abu Dhabi last week on his third official visit to the UAE after assuming office in April last year.
During the interview, he suggested that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan could help mediate between New Delhi and Islamabad.
“He (bin Zayed) can play a very important role in bringing the two countries to the talking table. I gave my word of honour that we would talk to the Indians with sincerity of purpose but it takes two to tango,” added Sharif.
In March 2021, the UAE reportedly helped broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The ceasefire was seen as a milestone initiative as the two countries recommitted themselves to the informal 2003 ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC).
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India ‘usurped’ Kashmir autonomy
Sharif criticised New Delhi’s decision to scrap Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that gave special status to Kashmir.
“They usurped whatever semblance of autonomy was given to the Kashmiris in their constitution — Article 370. They revoked that in August 2019, and minorities over there are being grossly mishandled,” he said.
Addressing Modi, he added that the two countries should spend less resources on armaments and work on alleviation of poverty and unemployment.
“We need to use our resources to alleviate poverty and employment and not waste these resources on getting ammunition and bombs. That’s the message I want to give to Modi,” said Sharif.
Pakistan should ‘stand on its own feet’
During the interview, Sharif thanked the “brotherly” countries of Saudi Arabia and the UAE for helping tide Pakistan through its current financial crisis. Last week, Islamabad secured $4 billion from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
However, he also stressed the need for Pakistan to be self-reliant and not look for “handouts”.
“Pakistan’s economic woes and difficulties in recent years wouldn’t have decreased without the support from our brotherly countries in the Gulf. Be it Saudi Arabia, the UAE or others. That does not mean that we should always be looking towards these countries for handouts. That is not my vision.”
He said his vision is that one day Pakistan will “stand on its own feet” and promote trade, investments etc. “That was the reason Pakistan was carved out of India.”
The Pakistani premier also expressed the need to work with Gulf countries in the areas of trade, investment, culture and “promotion of Islam as a religion of peace and tranquility that shuns all kinds of terrorism and extremism.”
He also cited Germany and Japan which had resurged after their defeat in World War II as inspiration for Pakistan. “Seventy-eighty years ago, Germany was annihilated and razed to the ground. Japan was totally defeated. And in six years time, they came back on the horizon. That is the example in front of us.”
‘Bridge’ between US & China
While speaking on issues like the Ukraine war and increasing tensions between the US and China, Sharif remarked that his country is like a “bridge” between Beijing and Washington.
“Between China and the US, we are a bridge,” he said.
On the Ukraine conflict and its effects on the global economy, he said: “What’s happening in Eastern Europe has devastated the entire world. Look at commodity prices. They are skyrocketing. In a country like Pakistan, we can hardly afford to import and buy expensive fertiliser or wheat.”
He further remarked that had it not been for a “warm” winter in Europe, gas supplies would have probably been exhausted.
(Edited by Geethalakshmi Ramanathan)
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