PTI Chairman Imran Khan continues to receive messages of congratulations from world leaders. A day after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s telephone call, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also telephoned Khan in which it has been reported that both the leaders agreed to make a new beginning in relations between the two neighbouring countries.
The fact of the matter is that Pakistan has always desired to have cordial and tension-free relations with New Delhi but regrettable part is that the other side has never reciprocated to Pakistan’s overtures positively. Rather in the recent past one has also seen India closing all the doors on people to people contacts by denying visas to Pakistani pilgrims, artistes, sportsmen and patients. On the other hand, Pakistan has always demonstrated flexibility and welcomed Sikh pilgrims and artistes from across the border. Though one fully welcomes the sentiments expressed by Modi during his conservation with Khan stressing for a progressive relations and that both the countries need to develop a joint strategy to develop and strengthen ties, yet the very statement should also be followed by some positive and concrete steps by the Indian side on the ground.
In not too a distant past the Indian PM made several such statements and gestures but these never resulted in any fruitful or worthwhile improvement in relations rather the Indian intransigence and provocative statements by high level government officials deteriorated the ties further. Khan in his conversation with Modi emphatically stressed for conflict resolutions through dialogue. Indeed occupied Kashmir where Indian military broke all records of brutality and atrocity is the core dispute between the two countries and without its resolution, no significant improvement can be witnessed in relations. Since Imran enjoys good repute across the border, we are confident that he will use his energies to bring New Delhi to the table for meaningful negotiations. And if Modi is really interested in making a new beginning, he must pursue the viable course of result-oriented dialogue with Pakistan that leads to permanent solution of the lingering dispute which indeed is of paramount of importance to rid the region of conflicts and ensure prosperous and peaceful future for our posterity.
Source: https://pakobserver.net/imran-modi-for-new-beginning/
