Shehbaz Sharif repeats Pakistan-India talks proposal

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday again reiterated the stance that Pakistan was ready to hold talks with India on multiple issues – including Kashmir, water, trade and terrorism.

Talking to senior journalists, the prime minister said Pakistan was ready for dialogue at any place selected by India.

At the same time, Shehbaz said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was issuing hawkish statements because of domestic compulsions.

On the other hand, the prime minister repeated his stance that Pakistan avenged the 1971 debacle.

To prove his point, Shehbaz said the PAF had shot down six Indian fighter jets, including four French-made Rafale. Pakistan had given a befitting response to the Indian aggression by using Fateh-I and Fateh-II missiles.

Previously, Pakistan had repeated announced shooting down three Rafale jets. However, Shehbaz now says the total is four.

The latest statement came after the prime minister said during his recent visit to Iran that Pakistan was ready to hold talks with India on water, counterterrorism and Kashmir, if New Delhi showed seriousness. If it wasn’t the case, then he promised to defend the country like Islamabad did in the recent conflict, the Shehbaz had made it clear.

PEACE IS THE GOAL

The latest statement came after the prime minister said during his recent visit to Iran that Pakistan was ready to hold talks with India on water, counterterrorism and Kashmir, if New Delhi showed seriousness. If it wasn’t the case, then he promised to defend the country like Islamabad did in the recent conflict, the Shehbaz had made it clear.

Read more: Pakistan ready to hold talks, if India is serious: Shehbaz

“We wanted peace, we want peace and we will work for peace in the region through talks on the table and resolve our outstanding issues, including the Kashmir problem, according to the resolutions passed by the [UN] Security Council … and even by Indian Lok Sabha (parliament) back in 1954,” Shehbaz had added.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump had said his administration might be able to get Pakistan and India together, just days after ensuring a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed rivals.

Read more: Trump asks Pakistan and India to talk trade, not nukes

“Maybe we could even get them together a little bit,” Trump said and encouraged to the South Asian nations to talk about trade, not nuclear war.

Meanwhile, Trump’s stance has shocked India, as Modi is unable to fathom how and why New Delhi failed to get open support from any nation, barring Israel.

Read more: No more the best friend: India targets Trump after May 10 debacle

It is the reason why, New Delhi and Indian media are currently busy in expressing their anger against the US president, once described as “my best friend”.