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NEW DELHI: Despite the criticism Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif has received at home for not meeting the Hurriyat leaders and for not focusing on the Kashmir issue during his meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, Islamabad on Wednesday described the meeting as "better than expected".
While acknowledging that this was not the occasion for meeting the Hurriyat leaders or for any substantive discussion on the Kashmir issue, the Pak PM's media adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said Sharif had not ignored Kashmir. He said Sharif did mention the Kashmir issue in the context of the Lahore Declaration and that even the Samjhauta blasts were referred to over the issue of terrorism.
"The issue of Kashmir was raised and to say that Kashmir was sidelined is not correct," Aziz said when asked by Pakistani journalists. "Pakistan has a clear stance on Kashmir as without its resolution the objective of long-lasting peace could not be achieved," he said.
Aziz was addressing a press conference on his return from New Delhi along with Prime Minister Sharif after attending Modi's swearing-in ceremony. He also said both countries have agreed to resolve all issues through dialogue and cooperation for bringing peace to the region. Aziz, who heads the foreign ministry and considered very close to Sharif, emphasised that there was a clear recognition of each other's concerns and that outcome of the meeting was much better than what the Pakistani delegation had expected.
According to government sources, and as reported by the Indian media, Kashmir wasn't discussed in the meeting in which the two PMs were accompanied by their respective delegations. Sharif himself later told a Pakistani journalist though that he had mentioned Kashmir. He also had a separate, 10-minute one-on-one meeting with his Indian counterpart during which he asked Modi to consider resuscitating the 1999 Lahore Declaration.
During the meeting, Modi had voiced India's concerns over terrorism originating from Pakistan. Aziz said issues, including Mumbai attacks and Samjhauta Express blasts, were discussed in the meeting besides confidence-building measures and steps to enhance bilateral trade.
Modi responded to Sharif by saying that for any substantive dialogue, it was important that Pakistan showed some progress in the 26/11 trial. Sharif has repeatedly said that he wants to take off from where he left in 1999.
Pakistan says Modi-Nawaz meet better than expected but can't ignore Kashmir - The Times of India
While acknowledging that this was not the occasion for meeting the Hurriyat leaders or for any substantive discussion on the Kashmir issue, the Pak PM's media adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said Sharif had not ignored Kashmir. He said Sharif did mention the Kashmir issue in the context of the Lahore Declaration and that even the Samjhauta blasts were referred to over the issue of terrorism.
"The issue of Kashmir was raised and to say that Kashmir was sidelined is not correct," Aziz said when asked by Pakistani journalists. "Pakistan has a clear stance on Kashmir as without its resolution the objective of long-lasting peace could not be achieved," he said.
Aziz was addressing a press conference on his return from New Delhi along with Prime Minister Sharif after attending Modi's swearing-in ceremony. He also said both countries have agreed to resolve all issues through dialogue and cooperation for bringing peace to the region. Aziz, who heads the foreign ministry and considered very close to Sharif, emphasised that there was a clear recognition of each other's concerns and that outcome of the meeting was much better than what the Pakistani delegation had expected.
According to government sources, and as reported by the Indian media, Kashmir wasn't discussed in the meeting in which the two PMs were accompanied by their respective delegations. Sharif himself later told a Pakistani journalist though that he had mentioned Kashmir. He also had a separate, 10-minute one-on-one meeting with his Indian counterpart during which he asked Modi to consider resuscitating the 1999 Lahore Declaration.
During the meeting, Modi had voiced India's concerns over terrorism originating from Pakistan. Aziz said issues, including Mumbai attacks and Samjhauta Express blasts, were discussed in the meeting besides confidence-building measures and steps to enhance bilateral trade.
Modi responded to Sharif by saying that for any substantive dialogue, it was important that Pakistan showed some progress in the 26/11 trial. Sharif has repeatedly said that he wants to take off from where he left in 1999.
Pakistan says Modi-Nawaz meet better than expected but can't ignore Kashmir - The Times of India
