LAHORE MIRROR — The US urged Pakistan and India on Wednesday to hold direct talks on issues of mutual concern.
US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller made this suggestion while commenting on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s latest offer of talks between the two nuclear armed neighbors.
“As we have long said, we support direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on issues of concern,” Mr. Miller said.
Addressing a summit in Islamabad on Tuesday, the prime minister expressed his willingness to hold talks with India, saying the two countries cannot be “normal neighbors” unless serious issues are addressed through peaceful and meaningful discussions.
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan is ready to talk to their neigbhours including India, if there were serious matters on the table as wars were no solution to issues.
The prime minister said while addressing a Pakistan Minerals Summit titled “Dust to Development”. He stressed the need to learn from the bitter experiences of past 75 years and move ahead with strenuous efforts, collaboration and dedication by exploring the untapped resources including the vast natural minerals and reserves and developing the agriculture, information technology and industrial sectors.
The prime minister referred to keynote addresses of various speakers and said if these suggestions and proposals were translated into letter and spirit, he was convinced that the nation would find its lost place in the next few years through hard work and untiring efforts.
The prime minister regretted that country’s journey of 75 years was dotted with bitter factors as they could not fully exploit the precious natural deposits estimated at worth $6 trillion.
“The day gives an opportunity to self-contemplation over a journey of last 75 years and the reasons which landed Pakistan into this situation with a begging bowl,” he added.
Elaborating his viewpoint, he said with the Russian support, Pakistan Steel Mills was established during 70s while in Reko Diq a hefty penalty of $10 billion was imposed on Pakistan and if it was enforced, the entire country’s foreign reserves would have been depleted.
The prime minister referred to the Thar coal mines reserves and said these were being converted for the development of Pakistan.
