War with India is not an option: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif

Islamabad: War with India is not an option as use of force could only worsen the situation, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said while hoping to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries. Sharif, during a meeting with President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday, wished to resolve all outstanding issues with India through dialogue as he believed the use of force could only worsen the situation, The Nation reported quoting a senior government official who cited the conversation between the two leaders. The Pakistan Prime Minister said war with India was not an option, according to the report. [caption id=“attachment_2498014” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Reuters[/caption] Sharif said his government desired friendly ties with India, all its neighbours and the world at large for sustainable development. Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and Dr Asif Kirmani, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, also attended the meeting. “They (Sharif and Hussain) discussed the regional situation and reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to have friendly relations with all the neighbouring countries for peace and prosperity in the region,” an official statement said. The government official said the “LoC violations by India” were discussed and Sharif told Hussain he raised the issue with the US when he recently visited Washington to meet President Barack Obama. Sharif said the US and world powers wanted Indo-Pak dialogue but alleged it was New Delhi which was not cooperating, according to the official. “We have always been for talks,” he was quoted as saying. Another official said the Premier was a bit concerned about the discrimination by the US on the civil nuclear deal. He pledged to continue efforts to convince the US for an India-like agreement. The official statement said that Prime Minister Sharif discussed matters regarding relief and rehabilitation of earthquake affectees, overall law and order and economic situation in the country and operation ‘Zarb-e-Azb’. The two leaders noted that work on different projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was proceeding at a satisfactory pace and hoped that successful completion of the CPEC will usher in an era of unprecedented development and prosperity not only in Pakistan but in the entire region. PTI