Islamabad:
Pakistan is still trying to come to terms with its newfound democratic status and political stability is yet to be achieved but after its first talk with India since coming to power, the coalition government has pledged itself to peace and makes way for a possible visit for the Indian Prime Minister.
Speaking to NDTV, Nawaz Sharif, PML (N) leader and a key partner in the coalition government, said that the new government is also committed to peace with India in spite of political instability in Pakistan.
NDTV: You met Pranab Mukherjee. What is the new government's vision for the dialogue process between India and Pakistan? How is it different from that of President Musharraf over the last few years?
Nawaz Sharif: Well, who would believe in the India-Pak dialogue process than I do. We are the ones who laid the foundation of the dialogue. We signed the Lahore. I myself together with Mr. Vajpayee signed this document, which is a historic document and we were very serious and sincere to resolve all the outstanding issues between the two countries and also march forward in this field of economic development and we made a good beginning. So therefore, my party and I very strongly believe in that.
NDTV: But specifically the composite dialogue process, this phase was launched in 2004 under a dictator's regime, a dictator that your party has battled on the election field. Will there be any difference?
Nawaz Sharif: I frankly don't know what happened in 2004 and what conspired between India and Pakistan. Musharraf, as you know is a very erratic man, very impulsive, does not have any proper institutionalized decision making forum as I have always been saying and he takes decision off the cuff. So no one frankly knows what happened in 2004 and thereafter. But we are committed to take this process forward. We have it in our manifesto and I will make sure we extend full cooperation to people's party to work on this.
NDTV: Yesterday, Asif Zardari said that the solution to Kashmir should not be left to future generation. It should be tackled in this generation. What is your vision for a solution on Kashmir?
Nawaz Sharif: I think we need to build more confidence to resolve this issue. We should seriously address this issue at the same time and there has to be a serious resolve between the two governments that we have to resolve this issue.