‘No genuine peace possible without resolution of the Kashmir issue'

Nawaz Sharif urges India to enter into meaningful dialogue with the genuine Kashmiri leadership

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday urged the Indian leadership to enter into a meaningful dialogue with the genuine Kashmiri leadership. He communicated this to India through the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Sharat Sabharwal, who called on him in Raiwind in Lahore.

While the Indian mission said this was just a courtesy call and it was routine for the High Commissioner to meet politicians on a visit to Lahore and Karachi, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) issued a statement regarding the meeting.

Reminding the High Commissioner that he has always been a strong advocate of cordial relations with India, Mr. Sharif reiterated his conviction that there can be no genuine peace nor stability in the region without a resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Mr. Sharif also urged the India to recognise that a peaceful resolution of the problem in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people would enable both India and Pakistan to devote their energies and resources to economic growth and development, thereby ushering in peace and prosperity in the region.

Mr. Sabharwal's meeting with Mr. Sharif comes at a time when the diplomatic community in Islamabad is busy trying to size up the political mood in the country amid reports of a realignment of forces to bring about a change in government.