Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has made an emotive pitch for peace with India.
In an interview with an Indian channel, Shahbaz said Pakistan was willing to give India MFN status and also resolve all outstanding issues, including terrorism and Kashmir with India.
“By God war is not an option for two nuclear countries. History has proved that the most ardent enemies have settled their differences through talks and not war. Let us for the sake of the well being and future of our two countries sit and resolves issues with sincerity, fair play and utmost sincerity. That alone is the way forward,” said Shahbaz.
He is by all accounts the second most powerful man in the civilian dispensation in Pakistan and his voice carries a significant amount of weight in his country, the channel commented.
Speaking with great passion and conviction Shahbaz Sharif said, “The two countries have fought several wars, lost hundreds of lives, wasted resources, without resolving any of the outstanding issues or achieving anything. Let’s forget the baggage’s of the past and make a new beginning,” he said.
He said India need not have any fears about the Pakistani deep state sabotaging the peace process.
“Let me assure you the Pakistan Army, indeed all organs of the state, are totally on board, they are fully behind the peace process. We now have a clearly defined relationship between the civil and military establishments,” he said. The chief minister revealed that at the time of the recent border skirmishes between the two countries the former army chief General Ashfaq Kayani had made it clear to him that the army had nothing to do with it.
He made an impassioned plea for both sides to grasp the opportunity and to resolve all outstanding issues. “I say this with all the emphasis at my command. Nawaz Sharif is totally committed to peace with India. We want to resolve all issues, improve relations, enhance trade, and people to people contacts. We have lived as enemies for over six decades without achieving anything, let’s give peace a chance,” he said.
In addition to notifying the MFN status to India, Islamabad he said had offered to host the DGMO’s as soon as it was convenient for India’s DGMO.
Shahbaz also vehemently denied that his government was funding the JuD run schools. “We have taken them over and we are running the schools not JuD.
He denied that the Pakistan state was aiding and patronising Hafiz Saeed. “We too are victims of the worst kind of terrorism there is no question of supporting him.”
He said his government would be prepared to do business with whomever the people of India elect as their PM.
“It’s not for us to decide whoever is elected PM here we will respect that and work with him in resolving our issues”.
Shahbaz says war no option for Pakistan, India
