Indo-Pakistan relations and foreign policy under PM Shehbaz Sharif's reign

[MenInG]

Think this should put an end to all gloating from India after Imran Khan's ouster.

==


Islamabad: Soon after he was elected as Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif in his inaugural speech on Monday raised the issue of abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir and alleged that the people in the Valley were bleeding and Pakistan will provide them with "diplomatic and moral support" besides raising the matter at every international fora.

The 70-year-old leader, who replaced Imran Khan after a high voltage political tussle, said he wanted good relations with India, but it cannot be achieved without the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

He said that neighbours are not a matter of choice, it is something we have to live with and unfortunately Pakistan's ties with India were never good since its inception.

He attacked Khan for not making "serious and diplomatic efforts" when India abrogated the Article 370 in August 2019.

"When the forceful encroachment was done in August 2019 and Article 370 was abrogated, what serious efforts did we make...what serious diplomacy did we try...Kashmiris' blood is flowing on roads of Kashmir and the Kashmir Valley is red with their blood," said Shehbaz, the younger brother of former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

He expressed a desire for better ties but with India linked it with the Kashmir issue.

"We want good ties with India but durable peace is not possible until the Kashmir dispute is resolved," he said, adding that Pakistan would continue to provide political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Kashmir.

"We will raise voice for Kashmiris brothers and sisters at every forum. We will give them diplomatic and moral support," he added.

Shehbaz also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come forward to address the Kashmir issue so that the two countries could concentrate on tackling poverty, unemployment, shortage of medicines and other issues.

Why do we want our coming generations to suffer. Come, let's resolve the Kashmir issue in line with UN resolutions and Kashmiris' expectations, so that we are able to end poverty on both sides of the border," he added.

Ties between India and Pakistan nose-dived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in the neighbouring country. Subsequent attacks, including one on an Indian Army camp in Uri, further deteriorated the relationship.

The relationship deteriorated after India announced withdrawing the special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two union territories in August 2019.

India's move to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 outraged Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad.

It also snapped all air and land links with India and suspended trade and railway services.

India has said that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence. India has said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pak...s-resolved-2879091#pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

[jeetu]

It will remain same as when Imran was PM. Only Pakistan army's top brass can make a difference. Elections are not far off , so no political party will risk a softer stand towards India anyway.

 

[JaDed]

Indian agencies would already know there is absolutely no point dealing with any Pakistani politician, the biggest dialogues only happened with the Pakistani establishment.

The gloating probably was how Imran has praised India’s strategic foreign policy.

 

[MenInG]

Indian agencies would already know there is absolutely no point dealing with any Pakistani politician, the biggest dialogues only happened with the Pakistani establishment.

The gloating probably was how Imran has praised India’s strategic foreign policy.

No gloating was mainly from BJP types.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations to H. E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people.</p>— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1513556114855501829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Varun]

Nothing will change.

The PM of India is still Modi and the PM of Pakistan is still Bajwa.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Modi will be very happy. He came to hold hands with the older brother, now he has a chance to do the same with the younger brother.

Imported government has no real legitimacy, no support of the masses. Thankfully this means they cant sell out Pakistan to RSS run India.

 

[Rana]

I think things will improve now

 

[Local.Dada]

I respect Gen.Bajwa. Seems to have a calm head on his shoulders and ironically speaks more like a head of state with well measured diplomatic and political statements which you expect from politicians and diplomats who in Pakistan speak with a lot more frenzy and the usual rhetoric.

India should deal with him directly and while I expect the politicians to continue from where Ik left off because the last thing they want to lose out is the anti-india sentiment. That is understandable in politics though. Have a feeling army will open some doors here for bilateral trade etc.

I say this with full responsibility, IOK side of Kashmir is history, unless a full fledged war takes place it won’t move forward even if a new govt comes. No one will touch that Pandora’s box anymore in India.

Best bet is to keep things quiet and keep
Working with Pak army. I thought IK will do a Vajpayee like move but we know how that went . Don’t see it with any of the other political players.

 

[oatmeal]

There is not going to be any major improvement in relations but as long as there is uneasy peace rather than outright hostility, its a good thing

 

[KingKhanWC]

I respect Gen.Bajwa. Seems to have a calm head on his shoulders and ironically speaks more like a head of state with well measured diplomatic and political statements which you expect from politicians and diplomats who in Pakistan speak with a lot more frenzy and the usual rhetoric.

India should deal with him directly and while I expect the politicians to continue from where Ik left off because the last thing they want to lose out is the anti-india sentiment. That is understandable in politics though. Have a feeling army will open some doors here for bilateral trade etc.

I say this with full responsibility, IOK side of Kashmir is history, unless a full fledged war takes place it won’t move forward even if a new govt comes. No one will touch that Pandora’s box anymore in India.

Best bet is to keep things quiet and keep
Working with Pak army. I thought IK will do a Vajpayee like move but we know how that went . Don’t see it with any of the other political players.

lol. Did you listen to his speech on March 9th?

 

[Local.Dada]

lol. Did you listen to his speech on March 9th?

No idea. I am only going by some clips of him talking that I saw where he was very measured. I don’t care what he thinks or does really. I am only praising his demeanor from what I saw. I might be wrong, so fill me up

 

[KingKhanWC]

No idea. I am only going by some clips of him talking that I saw where he was very measured. I don’t care what he thinks or does really. I am only praising his demeanor from what I saw. I might be wrong, so fill me up

I have nothing against the Pak army or the General as their main job is defend the nation and they will. But Bajwa is not very charasmatic at all .
This is what he thinks of India.

During his speech, Gen Bajwa termed India's accidental launching of a supersonic cruise missile into Pakistan on March 9 a matter of "serious concern", saying "we expect India to provide evidence to assure Pakistan and the world that their weapons are safe and secure".

"Unlike other incidents involving strategic weapons systems, this is the first time in history that a supersonic cruise missile from one nuclear-armed nation has landed in another," he said.

The incident had raised "serious concerns" about India's ability to manage and operate high-end weapons systems, Gen Bajwa said, adding that the neighbouring country's "indifferent attitude in not informing Pakistan immediately about the inadvertent launch" was equally concerning, Dawn reported.

https://www.business-standard.com/a...if-india-agrees-gen-bajwa-122040200410_1.html

 

[Local.Dada]

I have nothing against the Pak army or the General as their main job is defend the nation and they will. But Bajwa is not very charasmatic at all .
This is what he thinks of India.



https://www.business-standard.com/a...if-india-agrees-gen-bajwa-122040200410_1.html

That’s exactly what I am talking about. He put his counter argument in a very respectful manner. That’s exactly what I respect about him.

He said exactly what I would expect from army chief of Pakistan but the way he said it respectfully is what I appreciate instead of the usual bravado you would see from some politicians from Pakistan in the past.

 

[KingKhanWC]

That’s exactly what I am talking about. He put his counter argument in a very respectful manner. That’s exactly what I respect about him.

He said exactly what I would expect from army chief of Pakistan but the way he said it respectfully is what I appreciate instead of the usual bravado you would see from some politicians from Pakistan in the past.

So was the previous General. Lets be frank it doesnt matter , RSS extremist in power in India do not want peace. This hatred they spray around gives them a huge vote bank.

 

[Varun]

I have nothing against the Pak army or the General as their main job is defend the nation and they will.

Yeah, they repaid your faith by losing half the country in the 20th century, authorizing drone strikes on their own population in the 21st century, and so much more.

Get them drunk on the right amount of champagne and they'll tell you what their main job is: to ensure the gardens of their homes in Defence are picture perfect, and their son/daughter gets a free ride to the West. In between whiles, they'll rattle the political tin-can just enough so they can have a puppet of their choice at the forefront as the fall guy for their aforementioned failures.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Yeah, they repaid your faith by losing half the country in the 20th century, authorizing drone strikes on their own population in the 21st century, and so much more.

Get them drunk on the right amount of champagne and they'll tell you what their main job is: to ensure the gardens of their homes in Defence are picture perfect, and their son/daughter gets a free ride to the West. In between whiles, they'll rattle the political tin-can just enough so they can have a puppet of their choice at the forefront as the fall guy for their aforementioned failures.

I dont know why you bother quotiong me, its always tedious.

But I have to respond because it was the PM's who allowed drone strikes, the armed forces didnt want to go against them because the US would then attack the army, dividing the nation.

The Army has influence but it doesnt control Pakistan now, it cant after Mushy's days where the world was against the military coup. This is why you wont see another military coup in Pakistan for decades if ever.

 

[Varun]

But I have to respond because it was the PM's who allowed drone strikes, the armed forces didnt want to go against them because the US would then attack the army, dividing the nation.

The first drone strikes occurred in Pakistan in 2004. Who was the PM in 2004? Does it matter? Because everyone knows Musharaff was in charge. Yes, Musharaff the army chief.

For at least some of the initial drone strikes, in 2004 and 2005, the U.S. operated with the approval and cooperation of Pakistan's ISI. Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf told The New Yorker in 2014 that he allowed the CIA to fly drones within Pakistan and that in exchange the U.S. supplied helicopters and night-vision equipment to the Pakistanis. Musharraf wanted the drones to operate under Pakistani control, but the U.S. wouldn't allow it.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/11/24/unblinking-stare
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drone_strikes_in_Pakistan

 

[KingKhanWC]

The first drone strikes occurred in Pakistan in 2004. Who was the PM in 2004? Does it matter? Because everyone knows Musharaff was in charge. Yes, Musharaff the army chief.

Mushy was President in 2004 with a puppet PM under him. He wasnt army chief when the first drones killed people.

Yanks themselevs have admited the Prime Ministers or democractaclly leaders allowed this to happen.

Do you know how many drone strikes under Imran?

Sharif is already a lame duck PM. He wont do much in terms of relations with India, as I wrote the RSS governemnt of yours uses this hate towards Pak as vote bank from millions of illetrate Hindus.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan will not become a part of any war and will promote peace on international level, PML-N sources said on Monday, indicating broad contours of the new federal government’s foreign policy.

The new government would maintain relations with the United States on the basis of equality with a “clear principle of no do more” and take parliament into confidence on all important decisions on foreign affairs.

Sources said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would formulate guidelines on the foreign policy in consultation with the military leadership and that the new government would strengthen relations with all Muslim states and other countries.

It has been decided that Pakistan will not interfere in the internal affairs of any country nor would it become a part of any nation’s war policy.

The government will establish contacts with friendly countries following the policy of peace and equality and trade with these states will be enhanced.

The new government will raise Kashmir issue on all international forums. Possible relations with India will only be carried forward if New Delhi stops atrocities in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and reviews its policy in this regard.

The federal government will work with the Chinese government to expedite the CPEC projects and further expand relations with Afghanistan.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2352141/new-govts-foreign-policy-to-focus-on-peace

 

[silentkiller187]

 

[Rana]

View attachment 115626

The sharif’s know how to play the right tunes

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: The new government wishes to constructively and positively engage with the US to promote shared goals of peace, security, and development in the region, the Prime Minister's Office said Tuesday.

"We welcome US reaffirmation of long-standing ties with Pakistan," the PM's Office said in response to comments made by the White House on the assumption of office by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The statement added that Pakistan looks forward to deepening its "important relationship" with the United States based on the principles of equality, mutual interest, and mutual benefit.

PM Shehbaz was sworn in as the prime minister on April 11, following the successful ouster of PTI Chairman Imran Khan through a no-confidence motion — making him the first premier to be ousted through the democratic process.

The response follows White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki's statement, wherein, she said a democratic Pakistan is critical to the interests of the United States.

In a press briefing at the White House, Psaki said: "We support the peaceful upholding of constitutional democratic principles, we don't support one political party over another."

The White House press secretary said the United States "certainly" supports the principles of rule of law and equal justice under the law.

Psaki added that the US values its long-standing cooperation with Pakistan and has always viewed a prosperous and democratic Pakistan as critical to US interests — that remains unchanged regardless of who the leadership is.

In response to a question about whether Biden would call Shehbaz, Psaki said: "In terms of future calls, I don't have anything to predict at this point and time, obviously, we stay in close touch with them at a range of levels."

Since Biden assumed the US president's office in 2021, Imran Khan and Biden did not hold a telephonic conversation.

GEO

 

[MenInG]

Newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia and China in his first foreign trip after taking charge, a Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.

Traditionally, a prime minister’s first foreign visit has often been to Saudi Arabia and China due to the country’s strategic relationship with both.

According to sources, PM Shehbaz Sharif during his visit to Saudi Arabia will perform Umrah and meet the Saudi leadership.

The Sharif family maintains a close personal relationship with the Saudi royal family as the latter played a central role in ensuring the safe exit of Nawaz Sharif after the October 1999 coup.

Saudi Arabia in the past has extended financial bailout packages to successive Pakistani governments, in fact, Riyadh gave former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government a $6 billion bailout package.

It is unclear if the new premier will also seek financial assistance, given that Saudi Arabia provided $3 billion dollars to Pakistan not long ago.

After the Saudi visit, the premier is also expected to travel to China.

PM Shehbaz is known to enjoy a good reputation amongst the Chinese leadership because of his administrative qualities. During the previous PML-N tenure, Shehbaz played a central role in accelerating China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

The Chinese state media welcomed the election of Shehbaz and stated that given the Sharif family's previous engagements with China, the new prime minister would prove better for the Pakistan-China relationship than Imran Khan.

Meanwhile, the premier earlier thanked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for congratulating him.

"Thank you Premier Narendra Modi for felicitations. Pakistan desires peaceful & cooperative ties with India. Peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes including Jammu & Kashmir is indispensable. Pakistan's sacrifices in fighting terrorism are well-known. Let's secure peace and focus on socio-economic development of our people," Shehbaz responded.

The Indian prime minister had earlier in a tweet said, "Congratulations to H. E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people."

The relationship between Pakistan and India has proved tense and efforts to seek rapprochement in February last year failed to make headway.

The Sharif brothers are seen favourably in India, given their previous attempts to normalise ties with New Delhi.

But given Shehbaz’s coalition government armed with a heavy domestic agenda, there are no prospects of any major change in the relationship between the two South Asian neighbours.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

India and USA with a message:

Condemning terrorism in all its forms, the Ministers called for concerted action against all terrorist networks, including al-Qa’ida, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar e-Tayyiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Haqqani Network, Hizb-ul Mujahideen, TTP and D-Company. The Ministers called on Pakistan to take immediate, sustained, and irreversible action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for terrorism against other countries in any manner, and to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of cross-border terrorist attacks, including 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot. India appreciated U.S. support at the United Nations for terrorist designations, including of JeM leader Masood Azhar, and the United States welcomed changes in Indian law that will facilitate further cooperation on terrorism designations.

https://in.usembassy.gov/joint-statement-on-the-second-u-s-india-22-ministerial-dialogue/

 

[MenInG]

We value our long-standing cooperation with Pakistan - A democratic and prosperous Pakistan is critical to US interests: White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki


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[MenInG]

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) on Wednesday said that the “gratuitous reference” of Pakistan made in the joint statement issued after the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue was “alluding to some non-existent and dismantled entities” that were betraying the “misplaced counter-terrorism focus” of US and India.

The joint statement was issued after the conclusion of talks in Washington.

“Pakistan categorically rejects the unwarranted reference in the Statement issued after the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on April 11, 2022. The gratuitous reference in the statement alluding to some non-existent and dismantled entities betrays misplaced counter-terrorism focus of both countries,” said the FO spokesperson.

The spokesperson noted that it was “unfortunate that a bilateral cooperation mechanism” was “being used to target a third country for political expediency and to mislead public opinion away from the real and emerging terrorism threats”.

“The assertions made against Pakistan in the statement are malicious and lack any credibility,” said the FO.

The spokesperson reminded India and US that Islamabad has “remained a major, proactive, reliable and willing partner of the international community in the global fight against terrorism over the last two decades”.

“Pakistan’s successes and sacrifices in countering terrorism are unparalleled and widely acknowledged by the international community, including the United States. No country in the region has sacrificed more for peace than Pakistan,” said the spokesperson.

The FO added that New Delhi’s “insinuations” against Islamabad were a “desperate attempt” to hide its state-terrorism and atrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK).

“Responsible members of the international community must condemn India’s use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy and the impunity that continues to be associated with it. India’s terrorism network using the soil of other countries and through supporting UN-designated terrorist organisations, is on record. Failing to take cognizance of this serious situation is tantamount to abdication of international responsibility,” said the spokesperson.

Pakistan said that it expects and urged the “partner countries to take an objective view of the issues of peace and security in South Asia”. It also appealed that the partner countries should avoid “associating themselves with positions that are one-sided, politically motivated, and divorced from ground realities”.

“Our concerns and rejection of the unwarranted reference to Pakistan in the US-India Statement have been conveyed to the US side through diplomatic channels,” said the spokesperson.

GEO