Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that S Jaishankar's visit to Pakistan is a beginning. From here, India and Pakistan should leave their history behind and move forward. According to the news agency, Sharif was speaking to Indian journalists who had traveled to Pakistan for the SCO meeting on Thursday.
Sharif said about Jaishankar's visit-
The case goes like this. This should not end. It would have been good if Mr. Modi himself had come here, but it is also good that Jaishankar has come. Now we must start from where we left off. We have lost 75 years, now we should think about the next 75 years.
Sharif blamed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for the deteriorating relations between the two countries and referred to some of the comments made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sharif said the language he used had damaged relations with India. Leaders should not even think, let alone speak such language.
Sharif said- I tried to mend relations, but it could not be done
Sharif said he had tried to mend relations between the two countries, but they repeatedly deteriorated. Modi came to Lahore to meet us. He also spoke to my mother for a long time. This was no small matter. It has a great meaning especially in our country.
Nawaz Sharif also said that his birth place is written in Amritsar in my father's passport. We share the same culture, tradition, language, food. I am not happy that there is a long break in our relationship. Leaders may not have good manners, but relations between people are very good. I can speak for the people of Pakistan who think for the people of India and I will say the same for the people of India.
On 25 December 2015, PM Modi attended the wedding of the granddaughter of the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif.
Sharif said- Cricket should start again between India and Pakistan
Nawaz Sharif advocated the resumption of cricket ties between India and Pakistan and also said that he would like to visit India if the two teams play in the final of a major tournament in the neighboring country. Sharif said that there is no benefit for us in not sending teams to each other's countries.
Sharif spoke of restoring trade relations between the two sides. He said why should Indian and Pakistani farmers and producers go outside to sell their goods? Now goods go to Dubai from Amritsar via Lahore. Who is benefiting from this? What should have taken two hours now takes two weeks.
Sharif also recalled Vajpayee's visit to Lahore in 1999. He said – Vajpayee is still remembered for the Lahore Manifesto and his words at that time. I watch videos of those trips because it feels good to remember them all.”
Atal Bihari Vajpayee went to Pakistan in February 1999.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed her desire to come to India even sitting next to her father. “When I went to Kartarpur, I got a lot of love from Indian pilgrims. I would love to visit India, especially Punjab,” he said. To this Sharif said, “Why only Punjab? Go to Himachal, Haryana and other states too.”
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
