Pakistan's Former PM Nawaz Sharif Seeks Progress in Ties with India

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in a meeting with Indian journalists in Lahore, expressed his desire to see progress in relations with India, describing the visit of Foreign Minister S Jaishankar to Pakistan for the SCO meeting as a positive development. Sharif reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recalling his decision to visit Sharif's home in 2015 as a gesture that "wasnt a chota (small) gesture". The former PM also slammed his rival Imran Khan for his foul language against Modi and emphasized the importance of respecting certain values in bilateral relations.

Key Takeaways:

Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's former Prime Minister, has expressed his desire to see progress in relations with India, describing the visit of Foreign Minister S Jaishankar to Pakistan for the SCO meeting as a positive development.
Sharif reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recalling his decision to visit Sharif's home in 2015 as a gesture that "wasnt a chota (small) gesture".
Sharif slammed his rival Imran Khan for his foul language against Modi, stating that it had led to further deterioration of relations between the two countries.
Sharif emphasized the importance of respecting certain values in bilateral relations and called for both sides to look ahead and not be held back by the past.
Sharif did not comment on India's recent actions in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that it was not the occasion to discuss it.
Sharif recalled his 2015 peace initiative with Modi that was scuttled by the Pathankot terror attack and emphasized the importance of ensuring that any such effort is not disrupted.

Statistics:

Sharif has been Pakistan's Prime Minister three times.
Sharif received Modi at his home in Lahore on December 25, 2015, which fell on his birthday.
Sharif's daughter Maryam Sharif and Punjab CM Maryam Sharif were present in the interaction with Indian journalists.

Sources:

[The Times of India, Lahore correspondent]