Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif emphasized the importance of India and Pakistan moving beyond their longstanding differences to focus on building stronger bilateral ties. Speaking to a group of Indian journalists, he praised Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent visit to Islamabad, viewing it as a positive development in fostering dialogue.
Sharif expressed his willingness to serve as a bridge between the two nations, stressing the need to avoid dwelling on past conflicts and look towards future cooperation. He reiterated that “burying the past” would unlock the potential for collaboration between India and Pakistan.
He also advocated for strengthening trade and reviving cricket ties between the countries, highlighting the inefficiencies in current trade routes, where goods are unnecessarily routed through Dubai instead of directly between Amritsar and Lahore.
Sharif underscored the unchangeable geographical realities of both nations, saying, “We can’t change our neighbours, neither can Pakistan nor can India. We should live like good neighbours.”
Jaishankar’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Islamabad is particularly significant, marking the first visit of an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly a decade. While no formal bilateral meeting was scheduled, Sharif and other Pakistani officials view this interaction as a potential “ice-breaker” between the two nations.
Nawaz Sharif is hopeful that these efforts will pave the way for a fresh start, helping to resolve long-standing issues and open up new avenues for cooperation and friendship between India and Pakistan.