Pak ready for talks if india agrees to discuss kasHmir, says nawaz
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Saturday that Pakistan is ready to hold dialogue with India if New Delhi is serious about resolving the Kashmir issue. Pakistan had offered holding of talks on outstanding issues several times but India did not reciprocate, he said while talking to reporters in Baku before wrapping up a three-day visit to Azerbaijan. He said Kashmir was main cause of unrest in the region and India must show seriousness for resolution of the issue and honour its commitment under United Nations Security Council Resolutions. Pakistan was committed to peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, he added. The premier regretted Indian allegations that blamed Pakistan for the attack on an Indian army base camp in Uri. He said India levelled allegations against Pakistan within six hours of the Uri incident, and reiterated that no infiltration took place across the Line of Control (LoC). The prime minister said his government had introduced a new culture of political tolerance in the country as they respected mandate of every party. “The PPP formed government in Sindh and we respected it. Similarly we have respected MQM as an opposition party. Even when unethical language was used in KPK we also respected the public mandate there,” he added. He vowed to take the country to path of progress and prosperity, despite “certain elements’ plans to shut the country”. Sharif’s statement comes as tensions simmer between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir issue. Last month, India initiated a diplomatic drive to isolate Pakistan after blaming it for the attack on the Uri army camp.