Oct 21 , 2015
News
PM says India discourages Pakistan’s all peace efforts
Nawaz says Kashmir issue has to be resolve for peace in region
INPWASHINGTION - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that India discouraged all peace efforts made by Pakistan in the region.
Addressing Pakistan-American community in Washington on Tuesday night, the prime minister said that Pakistan wants friendly relations with all its neighbours, including India, and had been making efforts for lasting regional peace as it was in the interest of all. “If we sincerely want to bring peace to the region, we will have to resolve the Kashmir issue,” he said. “The entire world knows that Kashmir is the root cause of tension in the region,” the prime minister said.
Terming Kashmir as the bone of contention between Pakistan and India, Prime Minister Nawaz said that if New Delhi is serious about improving bilateral ties with Islamabad, the issue of Kashmir would have to be resolved. Nawaz also expressed Pakistan’s desire for peace in Afghanistan and said that Islamabad would continue to play its role in this regard.
On war aginst terrorism, the prime minister said that Pakistan gave many sacrifices in this war and the government is committed to root out terrorism from the country. He said that network of terrorists has been destroyed. He appreciated sacrifices rendered by Pakistan armed forces against terrorism.
The prime minister pointed out that the country was besieged by terrorism when his government came to power with Balochistan in a state of war. Rather than play the blame game and pointing fingers at previous regimes, his government directed their efforts towards the betterment of the country, he said. Nawaz maintained that the day was not far when terrorism would be completely uprooted from Pakistan. He said that his government adopted those priorities that were in line with the sentiments of its citizens.
He said that the community’s heart beats for its homeland. Nawaz stated that the situation in Karachi, Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) was not as it was before. He stated that a wave of effective change had started in Pakistan. During his speech, the prime minister highlighted socio-economic development programmes under way in Pakistan, including the Rs 341 billion farmers’ Package, the joint Pakistan-China Gwadar port initiative and Pakistan-Russia cooperation on the North-South gas pipeline.
He said that the addition of 3,600 megawatts of electricity to the national grid by 2017 would allow the country to overcome the energy crisis. He said that Pakistan’s budget deficit had been reduced from 8.8 per cent to 5.3 per cent, and that the stock market had picked up. The prime minister called for all stakeholders to join hands for progress and development in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Nawaz said that international institutions are acknowledging the government’s steps for the revival of the economy. Nawaz said that today’s Pakistan is completely different from that of what “we had received two and a half years ago”. He said that the wave of change can be felt by all and sundry in every sector and every part of the country.
About political situation, the prime minister said that one party tried its best to create political crisis in Pakistan. “The Supreme Court’s inquiry commission termed the general elections of 2013 as transparent but unfortunately the commission’s was not accepted,” he regretted. PM Nawaz said that the incumbent government allowed the opposition parties to form their governments.
“I would like to tell you that the incumbent government is putting its heart and soul towards fulfilling the responsibility of serving the country and the nation,” he said, adding, “we will hand over to you a Pakistan in 2018 that is much more bright, developed and prosperous than that of 2013.’ Nawaz stated that every penny of the country was being spent with complete trust and confidence.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk