ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed gratitude to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for felicitating him on becoming premier of the country and called for resolution of the longstanding Kashmir dispute between the two nuclear states.

M Sharif in his letter to the Indian prime minister said Pakistan wanted peace in the region and resolution of all disputes, including Kashmir. “Pakistan wants peaceful relations with India,” he added.

Soon after assuming charge of his office, Shehbaz Sharif was greeted by Mr Modi who had said India desired constructive ties with Pakistan.

Mr Sharif was elected 24th prime minister of the country on April 11, in an unprecedented way when the opposition became government after the success of a no-confidence resolution against ex-prime minister Imran Khan.

In a Twitter post, Mt Modi had congratulated Mr Sharif on becoming the prime minister of Pakistan and said India desired peace and stability in a region free of terrorism.

In his maiden speech, after becoming the prime minister, in the National Assembly, Mr Sharif extended an olive branch to India and asserted that the resolution of the Kashmir issue would allow the two sides to focus on shared problems such as poverty.

“I will work with all neighbours, including India, for the betterment of the environment, but ties with India are subject to the Kashmir issue,” he said, adding that he had already advised the Indian prime minister to resolve the Kashmir issue and move towards a lasting peace between the two countries and in the region.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2022