Daily Times

Sir: Lately, the Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan, Mian Nawaz Sharif wrote a letter to the newly elected Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. Naturally, what he wrote to the Indian PM could not have been different, in any manner, from what he has been stating verbatim, time and again, vis-a-vis the mired bilateral relations between the two countries. PM Sharif took the initiative and broke the ice, once again, by writing to Modi despite his detractors’ awfully critical stance on the recent overtures made by him to his Indian counterpart for peace. In his latest communication he approached the incumbent Indian PM again, soliciting his cooperation in laying the foundations for a sparkling future for the peoples of the two countries. Having written to Modi just a week after attending the Indian leader’s inauguration ceremony held in New Delhi, and an informal bilateral meeting with him on the occasion, Nawaz Sharif has clearly demonstrated his sincerity and determination to bring about a rapprochement between the two countries and resume the stalled bilateral talks. The fact of the matter is that Nawaz Sharif has been consistent in openly demonstrating his earnest desire to establish peace with India, since he came to power last year. Modi’s response to the Pakistani premier’s letter was equally encouraging. By expressing his government’s desire to work closely with Nawaz Sharif’s government in an atmosphere free from confrontation and violence in order to chart a new course in bilateral relations, he has undeniably kindled a ray of hope for improvement in ties between the two countries. Regardless of Mr Modi’s warm or lukewarm response to Nawaz Sharif’s sincere gesture of amity, Pakistan should continue to pursue the path of peace and cordiality between the two hostile neighbours, as only by treading the path of geniality can the two nations move forward towards progress and prosperity and live with dignity and honour in the comity of respected world nations. However, in the process of mending their fences the two sides, particularly India, must bear in mind that their endeavours directed towards the improvement of bilateral relations will bear fruit only when long-pending key issues like Kashmir and Siachen, and expeditious trial of the Mumbai tragedy suspects by Pakistan, are seriously brought to the negotiating table and amicably resolved.

M FAZAL ELAHI
Islamabad