DELHI/ISLAMABAD: The Indian govt reacted positively to former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif‘s remark that Pakistan sabotaged the 1999 Lahore peace agreement he had reached with his then counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying there’s an “objective view” emerging in the neighbouring country as well on this issue.
Taking over as president of his PML-N party on Tuesday, Nawaz had said it was Pakistan which violated the peace process through then army chief Pervez Musharraf‘s Kargil misadventure.Nawaz, whose brother Shehbaz Sharif leads the Pakistan govt, has held that position for decades but the timing of his remarks was significant as it came just before the outcome of the Indian Parliamentary elections. “You are aware of our position on the issue. We note that there is an objective view emerging in Pakistan as well,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
Shehbaz is likely to come face to face with Indian PM, who will take oath next week after the election outcome, at the SCO summit in Kazakhstan in July. However, for any substantive bilateral engagement, the new Indian govt will likely insist on Islamabad reviewing its decision to downgrade ties in 2019, after India revoked special status of J&K.
Nawaz’s remarks also come at a time the ruling PML-N has become unpopular among masses due to its pro-military policies. Its current govt has been labeled by critics and opponents as unconstitutional.
Following the poor show in last elections despite full backing of the army, according to Pakistan-based observers, Nawaz has been trying to temper his party’s pro-military image, while also recalling his past achievements as PM like the 1998 nuclear tests and the Lahore Declaration with India.
Taking over as president of his PML-N party on Tuesday, Nawaz had said it was Pakistan which violated the peace process through then army chief Pervez Musharraf‘s Kargil misadventure.Nawaz, whose brother Shehbaz Sharif leads the Pakistan govt, has held that position for decades but the timing of his remarks was significant as it came just before the outcome of the Indian Parliamentary elections. “You are aware of our position on the issue. We note that there is an objective view emerging in Pakistan as well,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
Shehbaz is likely to come face to face with Indian PM, who will take oath next week after the election outcome, at the SCO summit in Kazakhstan in July. However, for any substantive bilateral engagement, the new Indian govt will likely insist on Islamabad reviewing its decision to downgrade ties in 2019, after India revoked special status of J&K.
Nawaz’s remarks also come at a time the ruling PML-N has become unpopular among masses due to its pro-military policies. Its current govt has been labeled by critics and opponents as unconstitutional.
Following the poor show in last elections despite full backing of the army, according to Pakistan-based observers, Nawaz has been trying to temper his party’s pro-military image, while also recalling his past achievements as PM like the 1998 nuclear tests and the Lahore Declaration with India.