PM says ‘normal and stable relationship between Pakistan and India could only be built by adherence to principles of UN Charter, especially principle of sovereign equality of States and non-interference in internal affairs and right of people to self-determination’
Drawing Washington’s attention to India’s aggressive policy toward Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday vowed to maintain “credible” deterrence in the face of New Delhi’s “dangerous” military doctrines.
Sharif, who spoke at the US Institute of Peace, also made it clear that a “normal and stable relationship between Pakistan and India could only be built by adherence to the principles of the UN Charter especially the principle of sovereign equality of States and non-interference in their internal affairs and the right of people to self-determination”.
“There is no alternative for the two countries, but to resume a comprehensive dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.”
He regretted that New Delhi had refused to answer Pakistan’s peace overtures positively and instead New Delhi was adopting a dangerous military doctrine.
“While refusing dialogue, India is engaged in a major arms build-up, regrettably with the active assistance of several powers,” he said.
Sharif, who believes New Delhi under Narendra Modi has not reciprocated Islamabad’s policy to resolve disputes through negotiations, particularly pointed out that India had “adopted dangerous military doctrines.”
“This will compel Pakistan to take several counter-measures to preserve credible deterrence,” Sharif said. “Clearly, there is a real and present threat to peace and security in South Asia. The international community can no longer pretend that it does not exist,” he underscored to a gathering of American experts.
He underlined that the “Pakistan-India relationship poses the most difficult and urgent challenge,” and urged Washington’s role in staving off danger to regional security.
“I believe a close review of some of the existing assumptions and analyses, and greater attention to Pakistan’s views and interests, would be useful in enabling Washington to play a constructive role in averting the ever present danger of escalation and promote stability in South Asia.“
“A close and enduring partnership between Pakistan and the US is, we believe, a strategic imperative for achieving lasting peace and stability in our region and beyond,” he added, calling Pakistan an indispensable friend of the United States.
Sharif, who had a long meeting with Obama on regional and bilateral issues at the White House on Thursday, told the gathering that he was one of the first to congratulate Modi on his electoral victory in May 2014. He also cited Pakistan’s peace efforts on other occasions.
“I accepted his (Modi’s) invitation to attend his swearing-in ceremony. However, the positive momentum generated by that meeting was halted when New Delhi cancelled the foreign secretary level talks on a flimsy excuse,” the prime minister said.
“I met Mr Modi again in Ufa, Russia. Again, the National Security Advisers’ meeting was scuttled by India’s attempts to limit the talks to one issue and to dictate the programme of our national security advisor in New Delhi,” he noted.
“The cancellation of the NSA-level talks has been followed by increased ceasefire violations by India across the Line of Control and the Working Boundary as well as a stream of hostile statements by the Indian political and military leadership. Meanwhile, anti-Pakistan actions by Hindu extremists are exacerbating the tensions in our region,” Sharif said.
The prime minister also referred to his peace proposal at the UN General Assembly last month, which he said envisaged a new peace initiative, comprising four specific and feasible steps that could serve as the basis for progress towards normalization of relations. Unfortunately, India’s response was not positive, he said.
Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s unflinching determination to wipe out forces of terror.
“We made a strategic choice to eliminate all terrorist groups through a comprehensive strategy, involving forceful law enforcement actions and targeted military operations.
“Our military operation, Zarb-e-Azb, launched in June 2014, the largest anywhere in the world, has produced remarkable results. Terrorists’ sanctuaries, command and control and infrastructure have been destroyed. Thousands have been killed or captured. The rest are on the run. As the operation goes into its final phase, the few remaining hideouts will be cleared,” the prime minister said.
He said that simultaneously, through well-coordinated, intelligence-based law enforcement operations across Pakistan, the government had launched a focused campaign against terrorist sleeper cells, their supporters, sympathizers and financiers.
“Following the horrendous and cowardly attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar last December, the entire country united to fight the evil of terrorism,” he said.
On Afghanistan, Sharif said that recently, the security environment in the neighbouring country had deteriorated. He said that Pakistan condemns all terrorist violence in Afghanistan.
“There are two paths to peace in Afghanistan – a military victory over the insurgents or a negotiated peace and national reconciliation,” Sharif said. “Over the past 14 years, a military solution has been elusive. We believe that it is unlikely to be achieved in the future. Thus, achieving peace through negotiations is the best option,” he continued.
He assured Pakistan’s support for reconciliation between Kabul and the Afghan militants.
“Pakistan has no reason to want any violence in Afghanistan. The attacks on the Afghan government and indeed on Pakistan emanate from the vast areas in Afghanistan now under Taliban control. Pakistan’s priority is to defeat the TTP, which has also found bases in the Afghan territory. Peace within Afghanistan will enable Pakistan to eliminate the TTP threat,” he said.
“I have again conveyed to President Ghani that, if he desires, we are prepared to assist in reviving the talks between Kabul and the Afghan Taliban. But we cannot bring them to the table and be asked to kill them at the same time,” he said.
On nuclear security, he said that Pakistan is fully committed to the objectives of non-proliferation and disarmament. He called for Pakistan’s inclusion in the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
“Over the years, Pakistan has adopted a number of measures at the national level to strengthen export controls and security, which are consistent with the best international standards,” he said. “Pakistan is also participating in global efforts to prevent and combat proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. We have also contributed constructively to the Nuclear Security Summit process, President Obama’s laudable initiative,” Sharif said.
The prime minister said that to overcome its vast energy needs, Pakistan planned to install several civil nuclear power plants, under IAEA safeguards. “We look forward to international cooperation in this context. As a responsible nuclear power, and one with the expertise, manpower and infrastructure to produce civil nuclear energy, it would be mutually beneficial for Pakistan to be accepted as a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and other export control regimes,” he said.