NEW DELHI, May 26:
Arriving here with a “message of peace”, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said that he intends to pick up the threads with India’s new leader Narendra Modi from where he and then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee left off in 1999.
Sharif arrived here from Lahore where he said he was going to New Delhi with a “message of peace”.
Later, speaking here, the Pakistan Prime Minister said both Governments have a strong mandate and this could help in “turning a new page in our relations”.
Sharif will have a bilateral meeting with Modi tomorrow during which the two sides are expected to discuss ways to enhance cooperation.
“This is the same BJP’s Prime Minister Vajpayee for whom I have the greatest of respect. I intend taking up threads from where Vajpayee and I left off in 1999,” he was quoted as saying by NDTV.
The Pakistan leader also said that this was a chance to reach out to each other while noting that no two nations have ever possessed so much cultural and traditional similarities as India and Pakistan.
“Why not turn the similarities into our strength. I very much look forward to meeting Mr Modi. We should remove fears mistrust and misgivings about each other,” he was quoted as saying.
Both countries should rid the region of instability and security that has plagued it for decades, he added.
Sharif’s visit is seen as significant by political observers here given that hardline elements in Pakistan have expressed their unhappiness over his responding to the invitation positively.
Sources said it is expected that the Pakistan leader will also extend a formal invitation to Modi for a visit.
No breakthrough is expected during the visit but it will provide the two leaders an opportunity to cultivate personal relations which may go a long a way in reducing tensions.
After the swearing-in ceremony, Sharif said he felt honoured to be part of the event.
“I think people of both countries are very happy… I feel honoured to be part of the ceremony,” he said replying to a question by reporters.
Trade related issues such as grant of non-discriminatory market access to Indian products are expected to figure in the bilateral meeting of Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here tomorrow.
“Definitely both the Prime Ministers will discuss issues related with trade. It is an important issue. But the ball is in the court of Pakistan. India has already agreed on the roadmap to boost trade between the two countries,” official sources said.
Sharif will have a separate meeting with Modi before returning to Pakistan.
Pakistan has decided to postpone grant of Non- Discriminatory Market Access (NDMA) status to India due to domestic compulsions.
Bilateral trade talks have been suspended since last year following escalation in violence at the LoC.
In 2012, Pakistan had committed itself to give the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status but missed its own deadline of December 31, owing to domestic opposition.
The neighbouring country has to abolish the negative list of 1,209 tradable items.
Abolishing the negative list items that cannot be imported from India means the grant of NDMA status to India.
NDMA is a nomenclature chosen by the Pakistan government to avoid political ramifications at home of giving India the MFN status.
Besides, both the sides have earlier agreed to start trade in power and oil sectors and open more trade routes.
The bilateral trade between the countries stood at USD 2.6 billion in 2012-13.
India’s main exports to Pakistan include sugar, man-made filaments and chemicals, while its imports comprise mineral fuels, among others. (PTI)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel