LAHORE: PML-N President Nawaz Sharif has expressed optimism about a possible meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, in the near future, signaling a potential resumption of talks between the two nations.
Nawaz Sharif made these remarks during a conversation on Thursday with Indian journalists who were in Pakistan to cover the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was also present at the meeting.
Senior Indian journalist Smita Sharma, who was part of the interaction, shared with Dawn that Nawaz Sharif expressed hope for a future meeting between the prime ministers of both countries to discuss forward-looking issues, including climate change.
Ms. Sharma noted that the former prime minister highlighted a possible window of opportunity for improving bilateral relations. He fondly recalled his visits to India, particularly Amritsar, where his father was born. Maryam Nawaz also reminisced about her only visit to India as a young girl and her recent trip to Kartarpur Sahib, expressing hope for further engagement between the two countries.
Ms. Sharma further remarked that the lack of negative fallout following the Indian foreign minister’s visit was a positive sign for relations between the two nations, providing a chance for progress, although key issues such as terrorism and Kashmir still persist.
During the meeting, Mr. Sharif also emphasized that the Indian cricket team should come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy and that both nations should collaborate on climate change efforts.
This was Nawaz Sharif’s second meeting with Indian journalists within a week, following an earlier interaction with veteran journalist Barkha Dutt in Lahore.
