Imran Khan writes back to Modi for bilateral talks
Date: 21/09/2018
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has written a letter to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, seeking to re-start the bilateral talks on key issues including on Jammu & Kashmir, The Pakistan Foreign Office said here Thursday.
Pakistan and India have an “undeniably challenging relationship”, Khan wrote, while responding to Modi’s letter to him on August 18.
“We, however, owe it to our peoples, especially the future generations, to peacefully resolve all outstanding issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, to bridge differences and achieve a mutually beneficial outcome,said Khan.
In the letter to Khan, Modi conveyed India’s “commitment” to pursue meaningful and constructive engagement with Pakistan and emphasising the need to “work for a terror-free South Asia”.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said on Twitter: “PM (Imran Khan) has responded to PM Modi, in a positive spirit, reciprocating his sentiments. Let’s talk and resolve all issues. We await formal response from India”.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief thanked Prime Minister Modi for his “warm greetings” and best wishes on his assumption of charge as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
It is at least for the third time when Khan proposed a formal dialogue with India after winning the elections.
First he made the proposal in his victory speech in July followed by the first-ever address to the nation after taking oath in August.
Ties between India and Pakistan nose-dived following a spate of militant attacks on Indian military bases since January 2016. Following the strikes, India announced it will not engage in talks with Pakistan, saying terror and talks cannot go hand-in-hand.
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