Nawaz Sharif toeing military line in upcoming talks with India, claims TOI

Monitoring Report/ISLAMABAD: Taking independent foreign policy decision on ties with India has always proved difficult for Pakistan’s civilian leadership. Knowing the repercussions of independent decisions, specifically in the context of the 1999 Lahore Declaration, Nawaz Sharif is extra careful this time. His aides say he wants the military leadership on board before attempting to mend ties with India. “Nawaz Sharif knows that improving ties with India isn’t possible without the military’s support and endorsement,” a Sharif aide told Times of India.

So, while finalizing strategy for the NSA talks the Pak PM, his aides and his kitchen cabinet held extensive discussions with the army and ISI chiefs. Pakistan and India are holding 2-day National Security Advisers level talks on Aug 23 in New Delhi. Despite the fact that bilateral talks are just two days away, Pakistan and India continuously blaming one another for across the border shelling for the last two months. Pakistan has claimed that in last two months, Indian forces violated ceasefire along LoC and Working Boundary 71 times and fired mortar bombs, killing 7 people and injuring several others.

The civilian leadership agreed with army chief Gen Raheel Sharif and ISI DG Lt General Rizwan Akhtar to adopt an aggressive stance on terror-related issues but a give-and-take approach on bilateral disputes. The military leadership proposed this at a meeting held at PM House on Tuesday . Sources said the decision to invite Hurriyat leaders by the Pakistan high commission on August 23 was taken at this meeting.

Media reports said it was proposed that Aziz should raise the release of the Samjhauta Express blast alleged mastermind, India’s involvement in Baluchistan and Afghanistan and its violation of LoC truce.

The civilian leadership agreed with the military that unlike the ambiguous meetings in the past, the NSA talks should send a clear message to all stakeholders.

The participants agreed that Pakistan’s approach on international disputes with India should be reciprocal. Sir Creek, Siachen and the Kashmir issue should be discussed on give-and-take basis, they proposed.