In his sternest comments on Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed disappointment with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif for failing to keep his promise to stop ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I am disappointed, because in the New York meeting (with Sharif) there was a general agreement on both sides that peace and tranquility should be maintained on the border, on the Line of Control as well as on the international border and this has not happened,” Singh said while returning from visits to Moscow and Beijing.
Responding to a question whether he felt let down that ceasefire violations have only increased since the meeting with Sharif, the PM said, “It has come to me as a big disappointment. We had agreed at that meeting that the ceasefire which was made effective in 2003, if it has held for 10 years, it could be made to hold ground later also.”
Not masking his annoyance, the PM added, “The fact that this (ceasefire) is not happening, is something which is really a matter of disappointment. I sincerely hope that at this late hour, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will recognize that this is a development which is not good for either of the two countries.”
The fairly lengthy and critical comments on Sharif ’s failure to deliver acquire significance, given that Singh has been a staunch votary of rapprochement with Pakistan and has even attracted criticism for his enthusiasm for reviving the engagement with the truculent neighbour.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s displeasure with Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif over failing to restore ceasefire in J&K followed a blunt message he delivered to Sharif in New York about a month ago when he said, “I have not become prime minister of India to redraw the boundary.”
The PM’s September 29 meeting with Sharif, which took place amid escalating firing on the Line of Control and the international border, began with Singh making no bones about his resolve to protect India’s territorial integrity.
In fact, Singh’s “Churchillian moment”, reminiscent of the British leader’s declaration in 1942 that he had not become the King’s first minister to “preside over the liquidation of the British Empire”, even surprised his senior aides as the PM brushed aside Sharif ’s arguments.
Singh responded to Sharif ’s attempt to raise India’s “role” in Baluchistan, saying the matter had been raised by previous Pakistani PMs as well without an iota of proof being offered.
“I am disappointed, because in the New York meeting (with Sharif) there was a general agreement on both sides that peace and tranquility should be maintained on the border, on the Line of Control as well as on the international border and this has not happened,” Singh said while returning from visits to Moscow and Beijing.
Responding to a question whether he felt let down that ceasefire violations have only increased since the meeting with Sharif, the PM said, “It has come to me as a big disappointment. We had agreed at that meeting that the ceasefire which was made effective in 2003, if it has held for 10 years, it could be made to hold ground later also.”
Not masking his annoyance, the PM added, “The fact that this (ceasefire) is not happening, is something which is really a matter of disappointment. I sincerely hope that at this late hour, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will recognize that this is a development which is not good for either of the two countries.”
The fairly lengthy and critical comments on Sharif ’s failure to deliver acquire significance, given that Singh has been a staunch votary of rapprochement with Pakistan and has even attracted criticism for his enthusiasm for reviving the engagement with the truculent neighbour.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s displeasure with Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif over failing to restore ceasefire in J&K followed a blunt message he delivered to Sharif in New York about a month ago when he said, “I have not become prime minister of India to redraw the boundary.”
The PM’s September 29 meeting with Sharif, which took place amid escalating firing on the Line of Control and the international border, began with Singh making no bones about his resolve to protect India’s territorial integrity.
In fact, Singh’s “Churchillian moment”, reminiscent of the British leader’s declaration in 1942 that he had not become the King’s first minister to “preside over the liquidation of the British Empire”, even surprised his senior aides as the PM brushed aside Sharif ’s arguments.
Singh responded to Sharif ’s attempt to raise India’s “role” in Baluchistan, saying the matter had been raised by previous Pakistani PMs as well without an iota of proof being offered.
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