Pakistan working for revival of Afghan peace talks: Nawaz
* PM says ties with India should be improved through dialogue

LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said he was trying to revive peace talks between Afghanistan government and Taliban, after the latest round of talks was derailed by untimely news of the death of Taliban leader Mullah Omar.

Islamabad organised the first set of direct dialogue between the Taliban and the Afghan government in July, but another round was abandoned after the announcement of Taliban chief Mullah Omar’s death. “We are now trying to resume the (peace) process and pray to God to crown our efforts with success,” Nawaz said in televised remarks to the media in Lahore. “The news of Mullah Omar should not have been broken just before the start of the second round of talks. I don’t know who broke this news and why it was done so just two days before the start of the second round, is still a mystery,” he said.

Nawaz said ties with India should be improved through dialogue and that a solution for Kashmir dispute should be found and implemented as soon as possible.

“We are neighbours and should live like good neighbours, while taking into consideration the feelings of Kashmiris,” he said.

Presiding over a meeting at the Governor’s House, Nawaz said, “I told the UN that it was Security Council’s order to find solution which they should now make sure is implemented,” he said, adding, “I also gave proposals of how to improve relations with India.”

Responding to a question, he said the government had consensus with the political leadership on all important issues like Zarb-e-Azb operation, China-Pak Economic Corridor project, National Action Plan (NAP) and others. He said, “If one party wanted to do the politics of agitation and sit-ins, so what could be done. They must stop playing negative role in the larger interest of country.”

He said the judicial commission was formed in the larger interest of the country and to end the politics of agitation, but, unfortunately, things had not changed after report of the commission.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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