Shahbaz Sharif meets PM Manmohan Singh, seeks resumption of dialogue

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday raised the issue of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) with Shahbaz Sharif, brother of Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, even as the Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab Province emphasised that the Director General of Military Operations should meet as early as possible to ensure peace and tranquillity along the LoC.

Talking to a select group of media following his meeting with the Indian PM, Shahbaz admitted that Manmohan Singh raised the issue of recent ‘disturbances along the LoC’ during the meeting earlier in the day.

Shahbaz said on his part he had told the Indian PM that Pakistan favoured a peaceful and early resolution of issues like Siachen, Sir Creek, water and Kashmir through talks between the two nations. Shahbaz was hopeful that the DGMOs of India and Pakistan would meet as early as possible to ensure peace and tranquillity along the LoC.

“War is not an option but brushing our problems under the carpet is also not an option…like intelligent and prudent nations, we should resolve issues between us,’’ he added. On whether the PM had accepted the invite to visit Pakistan, Shahbaz said, ‘’he appreciated the sentiments expressed by the Pakistan PM …let’s hope he visits Pakistan.’’

However, Shahbaz the Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province evaded any categorical answers on the activities of Jamaat-ud-Dawa Chief Hafiz Saeed. The institutions run by the JuD had been taken over by the Punjab province government which was also responsible for running them now, he merely stated.

In an often repeated statement, Shahbaz called for cooperation between India and Pakistan to combat terrorism and stamp it out from the region. ‘’Pakistan itself is a victim of militancy and terrorism. We strongly condemn all shades of militancy.