Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif to his ministers – Don’t speak against India.

Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif to his ministers – Don’t speak against India.

A close aide to Sharif on Friday said that the ministers and senior officials had been asked not to issue any statement that could damage the peace process.

Islamabad, December 19, 2015 | Posted by Shraddha Jandial

In a step towards keeping the Indo-Pak peace process in check, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has asked his ministers to not give any anti-India statement.

A close aide to Sharif on Friday said that the ministers and senior officials had been asked not to issue any statement that could damage the peace process.

"There will be statements only that encourage the dialogue process rather than digging out the past. The PM has asked the close aides and cabinet members to promote peace," The Nation quoted an official as saying.

He said Sharif was optimistic about better ties with India, which would benefit both the countries.

The official said that Sharif was annoyed by statements like New Delhi only wanted to discuss PoK in talks, but he also understood that Indian government's policy was not such.

The three issues that Sharif wants to discuss on priority basis are Kashmir, terrorism and trade.

Another official said Sharif and the military leadership were on the same page to make peace with India.

"There is no difference of opinion and both agree that there should be no compromise on the stated position on key issues," he added.

An interaction between Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Paris and subsequent meeting of the National Security Advisors in Bangkok set the pace for improvement in the bilateral ties.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also visited Pakistan on December 8 to attend the Heart of Asia conference. She met Sharif and his advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz on the sidelines of the conference.

According to reports Sharif and Modi might meet again in Switzerland in January. The two leaders will be attending the 46th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos Klosters on January 20.

India's outgoing High Commissioner to Pakistan TCA Raghavan on Thursday said the relations between the two countries were heading towards betterment. Even analysts say that it is a positive development that Pakistan and India are ready to resume comprehensive dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues.

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