ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has told his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi that the people of Pakistan also desire peaceful and cooperative relations with all neighbours, including India, and that “an enabling environment is imperative for a constructive and result-oriented dialogue”.

This was stated by Mr Khan in a letter to Prime Minister Modi in response to the latter’s message to him on the occasion of Pakistan Day which the country celebrated on March 23.

“We are convinced that durable peace and stability in South Asia is contingent upon resolving all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan, in particular the Jammu & Kashmir dispute,” said the prime minister in his letter, adding that “creation of an enabling environment is imperative for a constructive and result-oriented dialogue”.

Mr Khan thanked the Indian premier for his letter conveying greetings on Pakistan Day and said that “the people of Pakistan commemorate this day by paying tributes to the wisdom and foresight of our founding fathers in envisioning an independent, sovereign state where they could live in freedom and realise their full potential”.

Calls for resolving all outstanding issues, particularly Kashmir dispute

“I also take this opportunity to convey our best wishes for the people of India in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic,” wrote Prime Minister Khan who formally started official work on Tuesday after recovering from coronavirus.

“Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration,” he concluded.

On March 23, the Indian prime minister through a letter to Mr Khan had called upon Pakistan to build an environment of trust for better ties, saying “as a neighbouring country, India desires cordial relations with the people of Pakistan” for which “an environment of trust, devoid of terror and hostility is imperative”.

Mr Modi had also wished Pakistan well in dealing with the challenges of Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier, he had sent good wishes to Prime Minister Khan after the latter tested positive for Covid-19.

Pakistan and India had last month agreed on resumption of ceasefire along the Line of Control, besides concurring on the need for discussing issues of concern to the two countries. Later, PM Khan and Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa had in their public statements also made conciliatory gestures towards India.

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Modi were among the world leaders who greeted President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Khan on Pakistan Day.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Khan had said it was India which was required to make the first move to normalise ties with Pakistan. “We are trying, but India would have to take the first step and unless it does that we cannot move ahead,” the premier had said while inaugurating the first edition of the Islamabad Security Dialogue.

Addressing the same event, Gen Bajwa too stressed the need for resolving the Kashmir dispute through peaceful means and said: “We feel it is time to bury the past and move forward.”

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2021