In an interaction with the newly appointed Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Neil Hawkins, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan desired peaceful ties with India, as reported by the Express Tribune on Thursday.
“A just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people is indispensable for peace and stability in the region,” said PM Shehbaz.
He urged the international community to play a role to settle the dispute as it is essential for long-lasting peace in the South Asian region.
PM Sharif’s statement comes shortly after former Prime Minister Imran Khan lauded India’s independent foreign policy as India continued oil purchases from the Russians despite the West’s displeasure.
In a huge gathering in Lahore, the former PM played out India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s speech from the Bratislava Forum held in June where Jaishankar justified purchasing oil from Russia as the price of oil is at an all-time high and the Russians are selling oil at discounted rates.
“When the Indian foreign minister was asked not to buy Russian oil. He said who are they to dictate India’s foreign policy. Europe is buying Russia’s oil and people need it. He said that they will continue to buy it,” Imran Khan said while quoting EAM Jaishankar and added “Yeh hota hai aazad mulk.” (This is what an independent nation looks like).
Khan slammed Sharif for bowing down to American pressure and not purchasing Russian oil.
Khan also claimed that his government contacted the Russians about buying oil at discounted rates. He further criticized the government by saying that this government has no courage to decline America’s wishes.
“If India which got independence at the same time as Pakistan and if New Delhi can take a firm stand and make their foreign policy as per the need of its people then who are they (Shehbaz Sharif government) who are toeing the line,” Imran Khan said at the gathering.
