Must start new chapter in ties, Sharif tells Jaishankar

Islamabad, March 3

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said it is imperative that the leadership in Pakistan and India should rise to the expectations of their people and the two nations need to start a “new chapter” in ties by working towards resolving all outstanding issues through dialogue.

Sharif made the remarks when Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar called on him during his Islamabad visit as part of the ‘SAARC yatra’ he is undertaking on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sharif said it is important to establish good neighbourly and cooperative relations between India and Pakistan which is consistent with his vision of a peaceful neighbourhood in South Asia.

Jaishankar flew-in here this morning as part of his “SAARC yatra” and held extensive talks with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Chaudhary besides calling on Sharif and his Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office here, Sharif expressed confidence that today’s talks between the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries will result in charting the way forward in bilateral relations.

“Both the countries need to start a new chapter in their relationship by working towards resolving all outstanding issues through dialogue,” he said.

“We must think together, act together and move forward,” said Sharif. — Agencies