Nawaz Sharif has again become Rays of hope for better Indo-Pak relationship

S.S.Dogra 

Even as the Pakistan Muslim League(N) looked set to emerge as the single-largest party in the national assembly, Mr Sharif said, "We have to restart our journey (from 1999). So whether India invites me or not, I will visit India.” This emotion shows that Nawaz Saheb is so much attached to our country. Nawaz Sharif, poised for a record third term as Pakistan Prime Minister after his party's emphatic win in the landmark general elections, has vowed to pursue better relations with the US while seeking "warmer ties" with India.


Dr. Man Mohan Singh reportedly spoke to Mr Sharif, congratulated him on his comprehensive win and extended an invitation. "The people of India welcome your publicly articulated commitment to a relationship between India and Pakistan that is defined by peace, friendship and cooperation. I look forward to working with you and your government", Mr Singh said in a statement released to the press. 

These are very good sign not only for both the countries but also for the whole world. Nawaz has already indicated his desire to normalise "roller-coaster" ties with India. Even during the campaign, 63-year-old Sharif had vowed to revive the Indo-Pak peace process which was interrupted in 1999 by the then military ruler Parvez Musharraf who ousted him in a bloodless coup. Sharif had started the peace process with then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

I congratulate Mian Sahib on behalf of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. My government hopes he would carry forward the process of restoring peace and friendship with India and work for resolving the Kashmir issue." Omar Adullah C.M. of J & K. He further hoped that Dr. Man Mohan Singh would pick up the thread from where it was left by Sharif and then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999 before Sharif was deposed in a coup by then General Pervez Musharraf.. Although former Pakistani Cricket Team captain and leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party also fought the election but could not find the majority but he is always advocate to create healthy environment for better Indo-Pak relationship.

Indo-Pak relation during Sharif reign
The Delhi–Lahore Bus, known as Sada-e-Sarhad (Call of the Frontier), a passenger bus service connecting Delhi, India with Lahore, Pakistan started under his reign in 1999. The bus carried the then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayi along with Indian celebrities and dignitaries such as Dev Anand, Satish Gujral , Javed Akhtar, Kuldip Nayyar , Kapil Dev, Shatrughan Sinha and Mallila Sarabhai. In lieu of the Indian Cricket Team’s tour of Pakistan in 2004, the Pakistani government permitted 10,000 Indians to travel to watch the cricket matches in Lahore; many of whom travelled via the bus amidst great fanfare at the border; the gesture was reciprocated the following year when the Pakistan Cricket Team toured India. This bus service was jointly operated by the DTC and the PTDC.

Lahore Declaration
The Lahore Declaration, a bilateral agreement and governance treaty between India and Pakistan it was signed on February 21, 1999 at the conclusion of a historic summit in Lahore and ratified by the parliaments of both countries the same year.Under the terms of this treaty, the mutual understanding was reached towards the development of atomic arsenals and to avoid accidental and unauthorized operational use of the nuclear weapons. The Lahore Declaration brought added responsibility to both nation's leadership towards avoiding nuclear race, as well as both non-conventional and conventional conflicts. The Lahore treaty was one of the most important and historical treaties of India and Pakistan to normalize the relations to ease up the military tensions in South Asia. The summit was hailed worldwide as a major breakthrough and milestone in bilateral relations and a historic step towards ending conflict and tensions in the region. The Lahore Declaration was hailed warmly in India and in the global media and by governments of other nations, forging optimism after the global tensions over the 1998 nuclear tests. The initiative bolstered the popularity of the Vajpayee government in India, cementing his standing as a statesman.

Conlusion
It is very important thing that Nawaz Sharif will become the Prime Minister of Pakistan for third time and this is a historical moment for him to prove his intellectual ability in front of his countrymen and other also. If we look at the history of Indo-Pak relation, the Pakistani leader always criticize India when they are in power but they always praise India when they are not. Now, Nawaz Saheb will lead Pakistan again who has been kind toward India, so it is hoped that he has also become a ray of hope for better Indo-Pak relationship. The Indian has high respect for Nawaz Sharif Saheb, let us see how he will handle his country’s present problems and able to overcome the terrorism activities and improve the image of Pakistan at world level.

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