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Pakistani Prime Minister Urged to Resolve India Tensions Diplomatically According to Reports - Nawaz Sharif's Advice

Following the Pahalgam attack intensifying the conflict between India and Pakistan, previous Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif offered guidance to his brother, the present Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, emphasizing the importance of a diplomatic strategy to alleviate the crisis.

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In the face of mounting India-Pakistan conflict after the Pahalgam incident, ousted PM Nawaz Sharif...
In the face of mounting India-Pakistan conflict after the Pahalgam incident, ousted PM Nawaz Sharif interjected counsel to guide his sibling, incumbent PM Shehbaz Sharif, on adopting a diplomatic strategy to defuse the crisis.

Pakistan's Political Delegation: Navigating India-Pakistan Crisis

Pakistani Prime Minister Urged to Resolve India Tensions Diplomatically According to Reports - Nawaz Sharif's Advice

Islamabad: With the intensity between India and Pakistan skyrocketing following the Pahalgam attack and India's decision to scrap the Indus Waters Treaty, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif set foot in Pakistan to counsel his brother, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on the need for a diplomatic solution to alleviate the growing strain, as reported by The Express Tribune.

Upon his return to Pakistan from London, Sharif offered guidance to PM Shehbaz Sharif, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic maneuvering after he was briefed on the decisions made by the National Security Committee meeting in response to India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

The PML-N supremo reportedly urged the coalition government led by the PML-N to utilize every available diplomatic resource to restore harmony between the two nuclear-armed nations. According to The Express Tribune, he expressed reluctance towards taking a confrontational stance.

Earlier this year, Nawaz Sharif underscored the importance of maintaining amicable relations with India and admitted that his government, ousted in 1999, opposed the Kargil war. The News International reported that Nawaz stated the PML-N repeatedly performed admirably but was always removed from power.

"I want to know why my governments were overthrown in 1993 and 1999. Was it because we opposed the Kargil war?" Nawaz was quoted as saying.

Nawaz Sharif headed Pakistan as prime minister during the coup d'état that ousted his government on October 12, 1999. Last year, Nawaz confessed that Pakistan had allegedly breached an agreement with India in 1999.

"On May 28, 1998, Pakistan performed five nuclear tests. After that, Vajpayee Saheb visited us and made an agreement with us. But we violated that agreement...it was our fault," the former PM admitted.

The agreement Shahbaz was reported to have referenced was the "Lahore Declaration," which he and then-Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had signed on February 21, 1999, with the goal of fostering peace and stability between India and Pakistan. Even so, shortly after the signing of the accord, Pakistani troops invaded the Kargil district in Jammu and Kashmir, sparking the Kargil War.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by our website staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Essential Details:

The Lahore Declaration and its Remarkable Significance

The Lahore Declaration (1999) was a groundbreaking accord made by Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee of India and Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan. It aimed to serve as a confidence-building measure and a stepping stone toward peaceful coexistence by addressing longstanding disputes—particularly Kashmir—through negotiation and cooperation[1][4]. The declaration emphasized the importance of peaceful resolution to all outstanding issues and pledged not to resort to violence, nuclear escalation, and instead focus on enhancing people-to-people contact[4].

Time Span:

The Lahore Declaration was inked in February 1999, well before the eruption of the Kargil War in May 1999.

Outcomes for Bilateral Relations:

The agreement initially appeared to be a significant diplomatic accomplishment, raising expectations for improved relations and even the possible resolution of the Kashmir conflict. However, the Kargil War, a military skirmish initiated by Pakistani troops infiltrating the Kargil district in Jammu and Kashmir, undermined the trust and accord established by the Lahore Declaration[3][4].

The Kargil War and the Lahore Declaration:

  • Betrayal of Confidence: The Kargil War took place despite the recent signing of the Lahore Declaration, which had expressly called for peaceful resolution of conflicts. The military incursion was seen as a breach of the commitments made in Lahore[4]
  • Diplomatic Ramifications: The war severely damaged bilateral ties and demonstrated the limits of diplomatic agreements when they aren't wholly implemented or respected by all parties involved[4]

Lasting Significance:

  • Legacy of Mistrust: The Kargil War and the subsequent deterioration in relations showed that agreements like the Lahore Declaration, while symbolically important, could be vulnerable to immediate collapse in the face of deep-rooted suspicion and unresolved territorial disputes[4]
  • Ongoing Relevance: Despite its setbacks, the Lahore Declaration remains a reference point for future peace initiatives, underscoring the significance of meaningful dialogue and confidence-building measures in India-Pakistan relations[1][4]

Summary Table

| Category | Lahore Declaration (1999) | Kargil War (1999) ||--------------------------|----------------------------------|------------------------|| Ambition | Peace, dialogue, mutual trust | Military confrontation || Key Elements | Avoid violence, nuclear restraint, diplomacy | Military infiltration across LoC || Outcome | Raised hopes for peace | Undermined trust, worsened relations || Long-term Impact | Reference for future peace processes| Highlighted fragility of peace initiatives|

  1. In the Lahore Declaration of 1999, Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan and Atal Bihari Vajpayee of India pledged to address longstanding disputes, particularly Kashmir, through negotiation and cooperation.
  2. The Kargil War, initiated by Pakistani troops infiltrating the Kargil district in Jammu and Kashmir, undermined the trust and accord established by the Lahore Declaration.
  3. Nawaz Sharif, referring to the Lahore Declaration, advised the current Pakistani government to utilize diplomatic resources to restore harmony between India and Pakistan amid rising tensions.
  4. Despite being a significant diplomatic achievement, the Lahore Declaration's effectiveness in improving relations was limited due to its vulnerability to immediate collapse in the face of deep-rooted suspicion and unresolved territorial disputes.

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