In a bid to start a new chapter in India-Pakistan relationship, Imran Khan has reached out to PM Narendra Modi. Despite an anti-India rhetoric during his campaigns, Pakistan PM Imran Khan wants talks to resume between the two neighbours, and as first step, he is hoping that the foreign ministers of both countries can meet at the sidelines of United Nation General Assembly in New York in this month end. The letter has been obtained by WION.
The letter has Imran Khan write that both India and Pakistan owe it to their people to 'resolve all outstanding conflicts, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, to bridge differences and achieve a mutually benefical outcome'.
Evoking Vajpayee, he wrote the former PM believed in building a bridge between India and Pakistan.
"Would be better if the two countries' foreign ministers can meet on the sidelines of UNGA in order to initiate a formal dialogue process that has been pending for long," PM Imran Khan wrote in his letter.
India and Pakistan talks which was launched in December 2015 were later stalled after the terror attack in Pathankot airbase.
Pakistan and India have an undeniably challenging relationship, the Pakistan prime minister said, adding,"we owe it to our people especially future generations to peacefully resolve all outstanding issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute Siachen and Sir Creek."
Pakistan remains ready to discuss terrorism, he added.
Pakistan's FM tweeted that awaited India's 'formal response'.
Despite his virulent anti-India rhetoric during campaigning, even mocking former Pak PM Sharif as 'Modi's friend', Khan has been trying to bridge relations with India since coming to power. In his first televised speech since becoming the Pak PM, he had said: “If they take one step towards us, we will take two, but at least (we) need a start. I am a person who arguably knows the most people in India because of my days in cricket. We can resolve the poverty crisis in South East Asia. The biggest problem is Kashmir," he said, suggesting that the two sides should come to the table to resolve it.
The last time both countries had a substantive dialogue was way back in December 2015, when Sushma Swaraj had gone to Pakistan to attend the Heart of Asia conference. Then onwards, the relationship has been in downhill after Pak sponsored terrorists attacked army base in Pathankot. India has reiterated that till Pakistan supports terrorist operating from their country, no constructive dialogue can take place. In the letter, Imran Khan has said that all sticky issues including Kashmir can be resolved through dialogue.
With inputs from PTI
