Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the country wants meaningful dialogue with India on all issues.
The comments came on Thursday during an in-flight press briefing on his return from the SAARC Summit in Nepal where all eyes were on the two warring nations.
Sharif added India should not have cancelled the Foreign Secretary-level talks, insisting there was “nothing new” in consulting Kashmiri leaders ahead of a dialogue.
Consultations held by Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi with Kashmiri separatists led to the cancellation by India of Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh’s visit to Islamabad in September. Since then both countries have maintained that they are willing to engage in a meaningful dialogue provided the other side takes the initiative.
He said Pakistan wishes to pursue the dialogue process from a position of dignity, honour and self-respect. “We believe in it and will maintain it at all costs,” he said.
Â
His remarks come after frosty Indo-Pak ties briefly gave way to some warmth on Thursday when a smiling Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sharif shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, but India cautioned against reading too much into such “courtesies”.
Internal matters have also been plaguing Sharif with PTI Chief Imran Khan refusing to back down in his calls for the Premier’s resignation. Reacted to questions on Khan, he said he would not allow the country’s dignity and image to be tarnished by anyone.
Â
Â