Will Propose join mechanism to monitor LOC: Nawaz Sharif
New York: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that he will propose a joint mechanism to monitor “tension” along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharif also condemned the twin terror attacks in Jammu in which 10 people, including an army officer, were killed on Thursday.
On the Jammu attack, Sharif said he condemns it in “strongest words”. “This is a very sad incident and we should work hard to avoid such incidents from repeating,” he added.
After receiving US backing on the issue of terrorism emanating from Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet Nawaz Sharif in New York on Sunday and he is likely to ask him to rein in terror elements operating from his country’s soil and unleashing violence in India.
Expectations from the high-profile meeting, coming against the grim backdrop of terror attacks near Jammu on Thursday, however, will be toned down.
Manmohan Singh has made it clear that any progress in the bilateral dialogue will depend on action by Pakistan against terror groups operating from its soil.
Singh, who arrived in New York last night from Washington to attend the UN General Assembly, will hold his first one-on-one meeting with Sharif since the latter assumed office in June.
The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral ties and ways to remove difficulties in normalizing relations.
Sharif, who is committed to improving bilateral ties with India, on Friday said that he was looking forward to the meeting with Singh to make a ‘new beginning’ and to re-engage with India in a ‘substantive and purposeful dialogue.’
The India-Pakistan dialogue process was put on hold after an Indian soldier was beheaded on the Line of Control (LoC) in January. Ties hit a new low when five more soldiers were killed by Pakistani troops along the LoC last month.
The terror attacks near Jammu, which left 10 people dead, mostly security personnel, virtually threatened to derail the New York meeting with main opposition BJP demanding the Prime Minister that his meeting with Sharif be called off.
However Manmohan Singh decided to go ahead with the meeting, saying such attacks will not succeed in derailing the dialogue process.
