Meeting with Narendra Modi was historic, must pick up ties from Vajpayee`s time: Nawaz Sharif

Zee Media Bureau/Manisha Singh

New Delhi: Addressing the media in the national capital Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that his meeting with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi was `historic` and emphasised that both the countries needed to work together for peace and prosperity. “We have to work together for peace and prosperity. Accusations and counter-accusations would be counter productive for both our countries,” Sharif said, adding, “Had a positive meeting with Modi. He reciprocated warmly and said that it was incumbent for both India and Pakistan to work together.” He emphasised that Pakistan was “ready to discuss with India all issues in a spirit of cooperation” and urged that a change was needed “from confrontation to cooperation and not engage in accusations and counter-accusations. For peace and security, we should bring stability instead of insecurity,” he further said. Sharif also revealed that the two Foreign Secretaries would meet soon to finalise the bilateral agenda in the spirit of meeting with him and Modi. On taking Indo-Pak ties forward, Sharif maintained that the two countries needed to pick up threads from Lahore declaration “from where we left in 1999”. “Legacy of mistrust and misgivings have to be left behind. India and Pakistan have a common agenda of peace and economic stability,” he said. Sharif also underlined the need to review and carry forward the bilateral agenda. “Both Modi and I have come to power with clear mandate. This provides us the chance to fulfil the hopes of our people,” he said. The Pakistani PM landed in Delhi yesterday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Modi as India`s 15th PM. Modi had invited all the heads of SAARC nations for the event which was held in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan and which was witnessed by more than 4000 people. Sharif and Modi held one-to-one meeting earlier today in the morning in which the Indian PM raised the issues of terror and the trial in Mumbai attack case. As per reports, Modi pointed out to Sharif the slow pace of trial in 26/11 terror case which was being held in Pakistan and at the same time outlined India`s main concern of terror with Sharif.