Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed his diplomats on Thursday to work to normalise relations with India, adding his government’s immediate attention will be focused on the neighbourhood.
“With India‚ the PM stressed the need to progressively pursue normality in bilateral relations‚ while actively seeking solutions for all outstanding issues‚ including Kashmir”, said an official citing the PM’s directives to diplomats in Islamabad and New Delhi.
Even before assuming office, Mr Sharif had advocated friendly ties with India. “The PM expressed his desire to deepen relations with our friends and brothers in the Middle East. He said Saudi Arabia‚ Turkey and Iran are friendly countries with which we will continue to pursue close cooperative relations”.
On the United States, he said the PM noted the two “had many areas of common interest”.
The official, quoting Mr Sharif, said China had always been a great friend and significant economic partner, and Pakistan will “strengthen this valuable strategic relationship”. He said Mr Sharif directed all Pakistani missions overseas to aggressively pursue economic diplomacy‚ and promote trade‚ foreign investment and economic cooperation.
In a message to heads of all Pakistani missions, he said effective economic diplomacy needed a “synergistic relationship between the missions and stakeholders in Pakistan, including ministries and the business community at large.
The PM expressed government’s firm commitment to address the energy crisis facing Pakistan in the shortest possible time, and encouraged the mission heads to identify potential bilateral and multilateral partners to help to address the energy crisis.