Pakistan wants talks with new Indian, Afghan govts: Nawaz

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the government wants negotiations with the newly-elected governments of India and Afghanistan. He expressed the willingness to move forward, on equal terms, on issues that needed to be resolved with the two states. He also stressed upon the need for progress on relations with these countries.
The prime minister said this while presiding over a high-level meeting with regard to national security featuring the political and military leadership of the country at the PM House on Tuesday.

In the meeting, Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, PM’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, DG ISI Lt General Zaheerul Islam, Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Ashfaq Nadeem, DGMO Major Gen Amir Riaz, Secretary to PM Javaid Aslam and Additional Secretary of PM Office Fawad Hassan Fawad were also present.

The premier further said that the government wanted friendly and better relations with all the neighbouring countries. In the meeting, the government-Taliban talks, Indian elections and the scenario in Afghanistan were discussed.

General Raheel Sharif briefed the prime minister on his recent visit to Kabul and his discussions on border coordination and security for the second phase of the Afghan presidential elections.

He also briefed the participants on the Pak-Afghan border coordination, withdrawal of Nato troops and security of second phase of Afghanistan presidential elections.The meeting also looked into the law and order situation in Karachi and Balochistan. The DG ISI apprised the meeting of relevant developments and the actions taken against the banned outfits.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan briefed the participants of the meeting on progress with relevance to the talks between leaders of the government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.According to news agencies, the prime minister said that all the state institutions should unite to work on internal issues impacting the country.