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Wednesday, April 18, 2012


Pakistan should take initiative to end Siachen war: Nawaz

* PML-N president urges Pakistan, India to withdraw troops, resolve issue through dialogue

SKARDU: Calling on governments of Pakistan and India to withdraw their forces from Siachen, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif said the first step in this direction should be taken by Pakistan.

Speaking to the media, Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan and India were spending billions of rupees on defence, which could be diverted for the prosperity of people.

He urged Islamabad and New Delhi to resolve the Siachen dispute through a dialogue. Offering tributes to the soldiers buried under snow due to an avalanche in Siachen, the PML-N chief said the entire nation was praying for the safe recovery of the troops.

He said the present government did not have the will or capability to fight terrorism. “Immediate attention needs to be given to terrorism and its elimination,” he added. He expressed his resolve to hold talks with India to resolve the Siachen border dispute, and urged governments of the two countries to withdraw their troops from mountainous military bases.

Sharif said that even if India did not show flexibility on the issue, Pakistan must move forward to avoid the baseless war. He also announced Rs 500,000 for each victim family and 200 tents for rescuers. On behalf of Punjab government, he also announced one job for each victim family.

Earlier, Nawaz Sharif visited Gayari Sector where more than 130 troops were trapped in an avalanche on April 7.

The PML-N chief also called on the families of those buried under snow and expressed his sympathies with them. Sharif also offered tributes to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan for paying high cost for defence of the country in extreme weather conditions. Commander of Gilgit-Baltistan, Maj Gen Ikramul Haq, briefed Nawaz Sharif about the ongoing rescue operation in the Gayari Sector. The PML-N chief also took an aerial view of the army base struck by the avalanche. agencies

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

 

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