Sharif wants ‘new beginning’ with India

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says he is eagerly waiting to meet his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh to “make a new beginning” in the relationship between Islamabad and New Delhi.

Sharif made the remarks in his address to the 68th United Nations General Assembly on Friday at the UN headquarters in New York.

He said that Pakistan and India must build on a 1999 accord, which œcontained a roadmap for the resolution of our differences through peaceful negotiations.”

“I am committed to working for a peaceful and economically prosperous region. This is what our people want and this is what I have long aspired for,” added Sharif, who was ousted in a coup in October 1999 by the Pakistani army for his overtures towards India.

Sharif is scheduled to meet with Singh on September 29 on the sidelines of the UN gathering.

“Pakistan and India can prosper together, and the entire region would benefit from our cooperation. We stand ready to re-engage with India in a substantive and purposeful dialogue,” Sharif said.

He also said that Pakistan and India have œwasted massive resources in an arms race. We could have used those resources for the economic well-being of our people, we still have that opportunity.”

“Pakistan and India can prosper together, and the entire region would benefit from our cooperation. We stand ready to re-engage with India in a substantive and purposeful dialogue,” Sharif said.

The Indian prime minister, who met with US President Barack Obama in Washington on Friday, said he also looks forward to meeting with Sharif, adding, œI explained to President Obama the difficulties that we face.”

Kashmir lies at the heart of more than 65 years of hostility between India and Pakistan. Both countries claim the region in full but each only has control over a section of the territory.

Over the past two decades, the conflict in Kashmir has left over 47,000 people dead by the official count, although other sources say the death toll could be as high as 100,000.

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