City
Epaper

Shehbaz Sharif as Pak PM viewed as more constructive towards India

By IANS | Updated: April 9, 2022 10:05 IST

Islamabad, April 9 Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is considered to be more hawkish towards India, while the ...

Open in App

Islamabad, April 9 Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is considered to be more hawkish towards India, while the PM in waiting, Shehbaz Sharif, may be more constructive towards a bilateral relationship.

"India wants a soft government in Pakistan," Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the Vice Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Foreign Minister, said recently, Express Tribune reported.

Qureshi said the neighbouring country is "disgusted" with a Pakistani government that defends its interests and adopts an independent foreign policy, the report said.

The former FM added that the PTI aims for good relations with India, but will not tolerate the indiscretion against Kashmir.

However, Imran Khan has of late being singing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's praise.

The people and political leaders of Pakistan were surprised when they resently saw their Prime Minister praising India's foreign policy before a crowd of thousands of supporters, The News reported.

"It is amusing to note that Imran Khan, who, at one point of time, used to deride Narendra Modi as Hitler and Nazi leader at international fora, has now praised his foreign policy, at a time when his government is on the verge of collapse," The News reported.

Khan praised Modi's foreign policy while addressing a public rally in Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said, "I would like to praise our neighbouring country Hindustan for its foreign policy. India's foreign policy is free and independent, and its only aim is the betterment of its own people."

The report said that Modi established friendly relations with countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Jordan, which were traditional friends of Pakistan.

Now, Saudi Arabia has stopped giving loans to Pakistan, while the UAE has stopped raising the Kashmir issue despite prodding from Pakistan.

One name that crops up for being close to former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is Indian steel tycoon Sajjan Jindal.

Jindal had held a meeting with Nawaz Sharif in Murree in 2017.

The News had then reported that the meeting was sought by the Indian delegation to play a role for reduction in tension between the two nuclear neighbours.

Jindal was part of the delegation that visited Pakistan during the impromptu visit of Narendra Modi back in December 2015. Jindal also reportedly hosted a lunch for Nawaz Sharif during the latter's visit to India back in August 2014, The News reported.

Confirmation of the contact came from Maryam Nawaz who had then dismissed suggestions that the meetings were "secret" in nature.

She had then tweeted: "Mr Jindal is an old friend of the prime minister. Nothing 'secret' about the meeting & should not be blown out of proportion."

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Tags: islamabadImran KhanExpress TribuneJordanShehbaz SharifPTIImran ahmadJitender singh mehtaP.m. finalImran niazi
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalPakistan Court Sentences Former PM Imran Khan and Wife Bushra Bibi to 17 Years in Toshakhana-II Corruption Case

InternationalImran Khan’s Sisters Stage Protest Outside Adiala Jail; Raise Alarm Over His Health, Security

InternationalImran Khan Facing “Mental Torture” in Jail, Claims Sister Uzma Khanum

OpinionsIs Imran Khan Even Alive!

InternationalImran Khan Dead? PTI Supporters and Former Pak PM's Sisters Reach Adiala Jail, Clash With Police

International Realted Stories

InternationalChina's disinformation offensive intensifies as military drills encircle Taiwan

International'Look forward to script new chapter in ties': Bangladesh envoy on EAM's visit to Dhaka to attend Khaleda Zia's funeral

InternationalA partnership tested: India-Russia ties in sanction-hit world

InternationalFree Balochistan Movement protests against enforced disappearances of Baloch women in UK, Europe

InternationalBrazil, India push for deeper trade ties as Lula plans New Delhi visit