Prime Minister-designate Nawaz Sharif genuinely wants to improve ties with India, the Pakistani High Commission said.
The incoming Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government has “clearly stated that improvement of relations with India is a foreign policy priority”, a statement said.
This has been “articulated with sincerity by Nawaz Sharif in his interaction with noted Indian journalists and media”, it said.
“It is indeed heartening that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is widely respected in Pakistan, has responded positively to the initiatives of Nawaz Sharif and sent a special envoy (SK Lambah) to meet the prime minister-designate.
“Statements emanating from both sides have contributed to improving the atmospherics,” it added.
It said good neighbourly, friendly and cooperative relations between Pakistan and India based on mutual respect and benefit were in the interest of the people of the two countries.
“While this must be the objective, both sides have to work the dialogue process to peacefully resolve all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir and explore new avenues of cooperation,” it added.
“It is exceedingly important that both sides do their utmost to build a positive narrative about each other.
“Media has an important role to play. Generating positivity would help creating space to move forward with confidence. In winning hearts and minds this is the foremost challenge.
“It is also important that the phenomenal societal change in Pakistan is understood and appreciated in India. It is time to shed the old way of thinking and using of stereotypes. There is every reason for optimism,” the statement said.
The high commission said Nawaz had extensively interacted with the Indian leadership.
It said the high point was the Lahore Summit with then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in February 1999.
“He genuinely wants to take the process forward. A historic opportunity now exists to bringing about a qualitative improvement in relations,” the statement said.
Manmohan Singh sent Lambah to meet Nawaz Sharif in Lahore on May 27. Lambah had served as India’s high commissioner to Pakistan during Nawaz Sharif’s first term as prime minister.
Manmohan Singh and Nawaz Sharif spoke on the phone after the May 11 elections.
