Pakistan Prime Minister Looking forward to working with Modi
A healthy sign in the efforts to develop cordial relations between India and Pakistan
Pakistan Prime Minister Shri Nawaz Sharif has written to his Indian counterpart Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, expressing satisfaction over his meeting with him recently and said he was looking forward to working with him in "harmony on all unsettled matters".
In a letter which was delivered to the Prime Minister's Office over the weekend, Sharif, who was among the leaders from the neighboring countries to attend Modi's swearing in on May 26, said the future of the poor was integrated with "our common economic destiny".
"I must say that I have returned much satisfied with our meaningful exchange of thoughts on matters of bilateral and regional interest," Sharif wrote.
A day after he was sworn in, Modi had held a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart on crucial bilateral issues including terror and speedy trial of Mumbai terror attack case in Pakistan.
"I look forward to working with you in harmony on all unsettled matters for the benefit of both nations. Hope that our endeavors will lay the foundation of a much brighter future," Sharif said.
The letter by the Pakistani leader is seen as a positive development in the Indo-Pak ties, which for last one year have witnessed cold vibes due to the incidents along the Line of Control, including beheading of an Indian soldier by Pakistan troops.
Sharif's letter further said, "It is the millions living in poverty in both countries that deserve our foremost attention. I firmly believe that in our concerted efforts lies the welfare and prosperity of our two nations."
Sections of the media in Pakistan, however, flagged off speculation about the meeting's outcome, claiming that Mr Sharif was "not too happy'' with the way India handled his visit to New Delhi to attend the swearing-in —ceremony.
Quoting sources in Mr Sharif's party, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), the Dawn News said that the Pakistani Prime Minister felt belittled when there was no joint press conference after the one-on-one meeting between the two leaders.
Mr Sharif, however, has tried to dispel all such reports. "I must say that I have returned much satisfied with our meaningful exchange of thoughts on matters of bilateral and regional interest," Mr Sharif wrote in his letter.
"It is the millions living in poverty in both countries that deserve our foremost attention. I firmly believe that in our concerted efforts lies the welfare and prosperity of our two nations,'' the Pakistani Prime Minister added.
On his return from the Indian capital, Mr Sharif had, in a reciprocal gesture, sent a sari as gift to Mr Modi's mother, Hiraba. Mr Modi had, during his visit, gifted a sari for Mr Sharif's mother.
These small efforts of exchanging inner feelings by Modi and Sharif are looked as healthy initiations to start a new inning of building relations between India and Pakistan. People of both the countries have become tired of hearing news of violence at borders. Now they want peace and cordial relations. Both the countries are rich on cultural platforms. Film/TV artistes, singers, writers, players and many more want exchange of shows and matches between two countries.
Let us hope that leaders of India and Pakistan will soon start dialogues on resumption of a healthy atmosphere.