Shahbaz Sharif asks for resolving “Kashmir dispute” as per UN resolutions
Encouraged with Trump-Kim summit in Singapore, Shahbaz Sharif, the President of Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N) has suggested that India and Pakistan should follow the footsteps of the US and North Korea and resume comprehensive peace talks to resolve “Kashmir dispute” in accordance with the UNresolutions.
According to Dawn report published on Wednesday, Shahbaz wrote in a tweet post, “Singapore Summit between the US and North Korea 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 further said: “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 asked India to leave behind the past acrimony and move forward, saying, “It’s time for comprehensive peace talks in our region. International community must focus on the peace process in Afghanistan. Dialogue between Pakistan and India over Kashmir should also resume so that the long-festering Kashmir dispute is resolved in accordance with the UN resolutions.”
India had immediately welcomed the summit on Tuesday calling it a “positive development” and expressed hope that any resolution to the “peninsula” issue will address New Delhi’s concerns about Pyongyang’s proliferation linkages with India’s neighborhood, a clear reference to Pakistan.
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A statement issued by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “India welcomes the United States-DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) Summit held in Singapore. This is a positive development. India has always supported all efforts to bring about peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy.We hope that the outcomes of the US-DPRK Summit will be implemented, thus paving the way for lasting peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula.”
It further said, “We also hope that the resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue will take into account and address our concerns about proliferation linkages extending to India’s neighborhood.”India has been demanding investigation into North Korea’s nuclear proliferation linkages with Pakistan for several years.
Read More: West meets the East in historic summit in Singapore
Pakistan Foreign Office has not yet issued any statement regarding India’s hope for resolving North Korea’s nuclear proliferation linkages with Pakistan.
Shahbaz Sharif is considered to be the most powerful person in Pakistani establishment after removal of his elder brother Nawaz Sharif from Prime Minister’s office due to investigation and pending court cases for his alleged involvement in corruption and money laundering. He is currently chief minister of Punjab as well.
Comprehensive talks between India and Pakistan were suspended immediately after 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Situation was worsened due to terror attacks on Pathankot Air Base and on security forces in Uri in 2016. It was further deteriorated when Pakistan’s military court convicted KulbhushanJadhav and pronounced death sentence for his alleged involvement in subversive and spying activities.