‘Sharif for talks with India without any preconditions’

NEWDELHI: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has indicated his country was willing to have negotiations with India without preconditions for sustainable peace in the region, Pakistani television channel Geo News reported.

While there was no official confirmation from Pakistan’s foreign office, the external affairs ministry refused to comment on the report.

The Pakistan television channel reported that Sharif had indicated to his British counterpart David Cameron about talks with India without any preconditions which, if true, could mean a climb down by Islamabad on the stalled dialogue between the hostile neighbours. While Pakistan maintains that Kashmir is the core issue in any talks between the two countries, India insists it is terrorism. India had called off talks between the NSAs in August after New Delhi took umbrage over the neighbour’s engagement with separatist Hurriyat conference a day ahead of the dialogue.

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REUTERS PHOTO Pak PM Nawaz Sharif indicated to his UK counterpart David Cameron about the talks with India during their meet in Malta (left), reported Pak TV channel Geo News.