Good Relationships with India Not Possible Until Kashmir Is Resolved: Pakistan's New Prime Minister

  • April 12, 2022, 11:08 a.m.

Soon after he was elected as Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, in his inaugural speech on Monday, raised the issue of the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir and alleged that the people in the Valley were bleeding and Pakistan would provide them with "diplomatic and moral support" besides raising the matter at every international forum.

The 70-year-old leader, who replaced Imran Khan after a high-voltage political tussle, said he wanted good relations with India, but it could not be achieved without the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

He said that neighbors are not a matter of choice but something we have to live with, and unfortunately, Pakistan's ties with India were never good since its inception.

He attacked Khan for not making "serious and diplomatic efforts" when India abrogated Article 370 in August 2019.

What serious efforts did we make? What serious diplomacy did we try? "Kashmiris' blood is flowing on the roads of Kashmir and the Kashmir Valley is red with their blood.

He expressed a desire for better ties with India but linked it with the Kashmir issue.

"We want good ties with India, but durable peace is not possible until the Kashmir dispute is resolved," he said, adding that Pakistan would continue to provide political, diplomatic, and moral support to the people of Kashmir.

"We will raise our voice for Kashmiri brothers and sisters at every forum. We will give them diplomatic and moral support, "he added.

Shehbaz also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come forward to address the Kashmir issue so that the two countries could concentrate on tackling poverty, unemployment, shortages of medicines and other issues.

"Why do we want our future generations to suffer? Come, let's resolve the Kashmir issue in line with UN resolutions and Kashmiris' expectations, so that we are able to end poverty on both sides of the border, "he added.

Ties between India and Pakistan nose-dived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in the neighbouring country. Subsequent attacks, including one on an Indian Army camp in Uri, further deteriorated the relationship.

The relationship deteriorated after India announced the withdrawal of the special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and the bifurcation of the state into two union territories in August 2019.

India's move to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 outraged Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad.

It also snapped all air and land links with India and suspended trade and railway services.

India has said that it desires normal neighborly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence. India has said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility.

Author : Rajdhani Delhi Representative

Rajdhani delhi representative

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