Pakistan grabs PM's olive branch, seeks talks

[t_co]

Pak grabs PM's olive branch, seeks talks - The Times of India

NEW DELHI: Responding to PM Manmohan Singh's "positive" gesture towards Islamabad, including the decision to send his special envoy Satinder Lambah to the country, the Pakistan high commission said on Saturday that the neighbours have historic opportunity to bring about a "qualitative" improvement in relations.

"It is indeed heartening that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is widely respected in Pakistan, has responded positively to the initiatives of Mr Nawaz Sharif and sent a Special Envoy to meet the Prime Minister-designate," said high commission spokesperson Manzoor Ali Memon.

Memon added that statements emanating from both sides have contributed to improving the atmospherics and called upon media to contribute to the positivity.

He said Pakistan's incoming government has clearly stated that improvement of relations with India is a foreign policy priority and that there is every reason for optimism. While he also said both nations still needed to solve outstanding issues peacefully, including J&K, he added it was time for India to acknowledge societal changes in Pakistan and the need to shun stereotypes.

In an interaction with journalists on his way back from Thailand, Singh had said on Friday that both he and Pakistani PM-elect Nawaz Sharif were committed to resolving all outstanding issues in a peaceful manner.

A statement by the high commission said that the two countries should explore new avenues of cooperation. "Good neighbourly, friendly and cooperative relations between Pakistan and India based on mutual respect and mutual benefit are in the interest of the peoples of the two countries and of the region as a whole," said the high commission in a statement.

"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 said, recalling how Sharif extensively interacted with Indian leadership.

"The high point was the Lahore Summit with Prime Minister Vajpayee in February, 1999. He (Sharif) genuinely wants to take the process forward. A historic opportunity now exists to bringing about a qualitative improvement in relations," it said.

"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.

While the government is still undecided about when exactly Singh will visit Pakistan, it is likely to send either a high-ranking official or even a union minister to attend the swearing-in of Sharif on June 5. In an interview to TOI last week, foreign minister Salman Khurshid said that the government is hoping that Pakistan's incoming government would build upon Sharif's positive campaign during elections in which he had sought better relations with India.

A positive gesture. India should reciprocate.

 

[Singh]

1. UPA's term is almost over and its not coming to power again. Unless UPA, devises a strategy which has the tacit approval of NDA, the principal opposition.
2. Nawaz Sharif still hasn't been sworn in. Need to see if Sharif will put Army in its place, or be put in his place by the Army

 

[The Last Stand]

A positive gesture. India should reciprocate.

We've been trying to "reciprocate" from 1947. It's Pakistan which usually replies to our request for peace. As @Singh says, Army and ISI might combine to put Sharif in his place.