Want 'permanent peace' with India; war never an option to resolve Kashmir issue: Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan wants to have permanent peace with India through dialogue as war is not an option for either of the countries to resolve the Kashmir issue according to a media report on SaturdaySpeaking to a delegation of students from Harvard University Sharif also said that sustainable peace in the region was linked to the resolution of the Kashmir issue as per the UN resolutions The News International newspaper reportedPakistan resolves to maintain peace in the region and that sustainable peace in the region was linked to the resolution of the Kashmir issue as per the UN resolutions he saidWe want permanent peace with India through dialogue as war is not an option for either of the countries he was quoted as saying in the reportRelations between India and Pakistan have often been strained over the Kashmir issue and crossborder terrorism emanating from PakistanAlso Read Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif rakes Kashmir in his inaugural speech pledges diplomatic and moral supportHowever the ties between the two countries nosedived after India abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution revoking the special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories on August 5 2019Indias decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoyIndia has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir iquestwas is and shall foreveriquest remain an integral part of the countryIndia has said it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror hostility and violenceDuring the interaction Sharif pointed out that Islamabad and New Delhi should have competition in trade economy and improving the conditions of their peopleHe said Pakistan was not an aggressor but its nuclear assets and the trained army are deterrence he said adding that Islamabad spends on its military to protect their frontiers and not for aggressionIn response to a question about Pakistans economy and the International Monetary Fund IMF programme the premier said that the countrys economic crisis stem from structural problems along with political instability in the recent decadesHe said the first few decades since the inception of Pakistan witnessed impressive growth across all sectors of the economy when there were plans national will and the implementation mechanism to produce outcomesAlso Read New Pakistani Govt removes PM Shehbaz Sharif PMLN chief Nawaz Sharif from nofly listOvertime we lost the edge in sectors in which we were ahead The lack of focus energy and policy action led to reduction in national productivity Sharif addedCashstarved Pakistan is facing growing economic challenges with high inflation sliding forex reserves a widening current account deficit and a depreciating currencyWith the rising current account deficit at USD 132 billion in the first nine months and pressing external loan repayment requirements Pakistan required financial assistance of USD 912 billion till June 2022 to avert further depletion of foreign currency reservesAs Pakistan turned 75 on August 14 Sharif wrote an essay in The Economist magazine in which he stated that the country in its adolescence in the 1960s brimmed with hope and promise as it had a date with destinyHe said the nation was widely thought ready to become the next Asian tiger However in 2022 Pakistan found itself mired in its latest economic crisisMeanwhile the International Monetary Funds executive board will meet on August 29 and is expected to approve a bailout package for Pakistan including the pending disbursement of about USD 118 billionThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever