NEW DELHI
With his visit to India drawing to an end, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that Pakistan and India have a "historic opportunity" with the election of new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Today I had a good and constructive meeting with PM Modi. It was held in a warm and cordial atmosphere. We agreed that our meeting in New Delhi should be a historic opportunity for both our countries,” Sharif said at a press conference in New Delhi, where he had attended Modi's oath-taking ceremony on Monday.
Sharif said that the electoral mandate provides both leaders an “opportunity to fulfil the hopes and aspirations” of the people of both countries.
“We will succeed in turning a new page in our relations. The 1.5 billion people of the two countries want us to focus on the welfare and well-being,” he said.
Sharif said that he urged Modi to work together to check “instability and insecurity that has plagued us for decades.”
“I stressed to the PM that we have a common agenda for development and economic revival which is not possible to achieve without peace and stability in the region,” he said. “Engaging in accusations and counter-accusations would be counter-productive to our relations.”
Sharif said his government is ready to discuss all issues between the two countries in the spirit of cooperation and sincerity.
“The two foreign secretaries would be meeting soon to review and carry forward the bilateral agenda in the spirit of our vision today,” he said.
By Mubasshir Mushtaq - Anadolu Agency
www.aa.com.tr/en
