Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif suggested on Tuesday a Singapore summit-style dialogue between arch-rivals Pakistan and India to bring peace in the region.
“If the United States and North Korea can return from the brink of a nuclear flashpoint, there is no reason why Pakistan and India cannot do the same, beginning with a dialogue on Kashmir whose heroic people have resisted and rejected Indian occupation,” he said in a tweet hours after US President Donald Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un signed a historic pact between the two nations.
The younger of Sharif brothers said the Singapore Summit should set a good precedent for Pakistan and India to follow. Ever since the start of Korean War, the two nations have been at odds with one another, both threatening to use military force with their nuclear arsenals facing each other, he added.
“It is time for comprehensive peace talks in our region. The international community must focus on the peace process in Afghanistan. The dialogue between Pakistan and India over Kashmir should also resume so that the long-festering Kashmir dispute is resolved in accordance with UN resolutions,” he further said in the concluding tweet.
The extraordinary summit — unthinkable only months ago — came earlier today after the two nuclear-armed foes appeared on the verge of conflict late last year as they slung personal insults and Kim conducted nuclear and missile tests.
It was the first-ever meeting between sitting leaders of the US and North Korea and was closely watched around the world.
“We will meet again,” Trump said after a signing ceremony, standing with Kim on the verandah where they first met. “We will meet many times,” he added.