LAHORE: Describing foreign minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan for the SCO meeting as a positive development that should provide an opening for more substantive engagements between the two countries, former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif reached out to PM Narendra Modi, saying the latter’s decision to visit Sharif’s home in 2015 was not an ordinary gesture. Sharif sought progress in ties, saying the relationship should not be held captive by the past.
Sharif, a three-time PM and elder brother of Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, also slammed former PM and rival Imran Khan for the foul language he used against Modi as PM.
We’ve lost 75 yrs and should not lose another 75, says Sharif
Achhe bhale talukkat ko tabah aur barbad karne waali baat ki (Imran Khan worked to destroy a healthy relationship). I would have never used that kind of language. We believe in certain values that must be respected,” said Nawaz Sharif, adding he had fond memories of Modi’s only visit to Pakistan on Dec 25, 2015, Sharif’s birthday.
As then Pakistan PM, Sharif had received Modi at his home in Lahore. “I got a call from him saying he was in Kabul and wanted to visit me on his way back to India. I told him he was most welcome. He also met my mother during the visit. What he did wasn’t a chota (small) gesture,” said Sharif, in a meeting with Indian journalists in Lahore who travelled to Pakistan to cover Jaishankar’s engagements.
The former PM is also the leader of the ruling PMLN party. His daughter and Punjab CM Maryam Sharif was also present in the interaction.
Khan’s personal attacks against Modi after India revoked the special status of J&K only led to further deterioration of relations between the two countries. Sharif did not comment on India’s recent actions in the UT as he said this wasn’t the occasion to discuss it. PM Shehbaz, too, had avoided raking up the Kashmir issue even in a roundabout manner at the SCO meeting.
Sharif also called upon both sides to look ahead and not be held back by the past even though he didn’t make any specific commitment on resuming trade ties or reappointing high commissioner. He did say that if there’s an opening, ‘cheezein niklengi’ (things will emerge).
Asked about his 2015 peace initiative with Modi that was scuttled quickly by the Pathankot attack, Sharif said it’s important to ensure any such effort is not disrupted. “India is our ‘hamsaya mulk’ (neighbour) and we can’t change that even if we want it. We would have liked Modi to come (for SCO) but it’s good Jaishankar came. We have tried and tried again (to normalise ties). We lost the past 75 years and it’s important we don’t lose another 75 years,” said Sharif, who is known to share a close personal rapport with Modi.
“Both sides have their ‘giley-shikwe’ (grievances). It will be better if we can bury the past,” he added. When asked if he would play the role of building bridges, he said he was doing it. Sharif also backed Saarc, trade and cricket ties with India, saying neither country gains anything by not allowing their teams to play each other.