US should play role in normalising Pak-India relations: PM

THE HAGUE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said issues between India and Pakistan should be resolved and asked the US to play its role in normalising ties between the two countries.

Talking to media after his meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry here, the Prime Minister said that India was hesitating to resolve the Kashmir issue bilaterally. “The Kashmir issue should be resolved. India is unwilling to use a third force to resolve the issue.”

He said if India was not willing to include a third force in resolving the Kashmir issue then the US would have to play its role in normalising the situation in the region.

The Prime Minister, who is here to participate in the Nuclear Summit said that peace in Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan and the region.He said Pakistan wanted to talk to Afghan Peace Council to maintain peace in the region, adding that improved relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan should not be derailed. “Some people are trying to derail this process,” Sharif said.

The Prime Minister termed the US policy of discontinuation of drone strikes in Pakistan appreciable and said it must be continued.

Earlier during the meeting the John Kerry Pak-US relations were discussed. Mr. Kerry told Prime Minister Sharif that the United States will continue to work with Pakistan for the elimination of terrorism. The US Secretary State also assured the Pakistani prime minister of cooperation to over energy needs.

Speaking to the media following their meeting, John Kerry said the two countries were “deeply engaged.”

“We have great confidence in Pakistan’s nuclear security,” Kerry told reporters.

Prime Minister Sharif said: “there are a lot of challenges we are meeting these challenges in Pakistan.” The prime minister also mentioned his positive meeting with US President Obama a few months ago in Washington DC.