ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister Office on Tuesday issued clarification about Shehbaz Sharif’s interview to Al Arabiya channel in which he expressed his desired to hold talks with Indian PM Modi on all burning issues including Kashmir.
His interview had drawn criticism from political parties with PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said he was shocked at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s willingness to hold talks with India. He said “our stand was that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi must reverse constitutional position of Kashmir to its original, only then Pakistan would negotiate. Begging for talks is not Pakistan’s policy we strongly reject this approach and Shehbaz Sharif cannot be allowed to sell Kashmir.”
Also read: PTI shocked over PM’s willingness to hold talks with India
Taking to Twitter, the PM Office said “the PM has consistently maintained that Pakistan & India must resolve their bilateral issues, especially the core issue of Jammu & Kashmir, through dialogue and peaceful means.”
The PM Office further said “however the Prime Minister has repeatedly stated on record that talks can only take place after India has reversed its illegal action of August 5, 2019. Without India’s revocation of this step, negotiations are not possible.”
It went on clarifying that “the settlement of the Kashmir dispute must be in accordance with the UN resolutions & aspirations of people of Jammu & Kashmir. The Prime Minister made this position very clear in his interview with Al Arabiya news during his recent visit to the UAE.”
