Pakistan Muslim League-N supremo Nawaz Sharif on Saturday stressed on mending relations with India, Afghanistan and Iran, observing that the country cannot expect to be taken seriously on a global stage if neighbouring countries were upset with it.
Speaking at the sixth session of the party’s parliamentary board here, he said that improving ties with India, Afghanistan, and Iran, and strengthening relations with China was on his party’s agenda. Hinting at the PTI government’s tenure, he noted that attempts were made to “sabotage” the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor after his government.
He said: “How can you achieve a global status when your neighbours are upset with you, or you are with them?
“We have to fix our affairs with India and Afghanistan as well, [and] strengthen them further with Iran and China,” he asserted.
The PML-N chief acknowledged that the nation has faced significant challenges over the past four years. He reflected on the “positive period” in 2017 when he served as the prime minister, highlighting “robust development”.
However, he expressed disappointment that the momentum of development was disrupted by certain individuals, hindering Pakistan’s prosperity.
Nawaz attributed the current inflation to economic mismanagement that began during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s government in 2019, with a substantial decline observed in 2022 by the time Shahbaz Sharif, his brother, assumed power. “Had Shahbaz Sharif not taken charge, the country would have defaulted,” he maintained.
Lamenting the country’s reins being “handed over to an incompetent person”, the former premier emphasised that despite “PML-N’s contributions in various fields such as economy, defense, and foreign affairs”, his government was repeatedly ousted from power.
Reflecting on his past expulsions in 1993 and 1999, Nawaz questioned, “Was it because we managed things properly that we were ousted? Was it because we opposed the Kargil war? A decision that turned out to be correct over time,” he added.
He highlighted the PML-N’s “commitment to national security”, including conducting nuclear tests under pressure. The PML-N supremo mentioned that two Indian prime ministers visited Pakistan during two tenures of PML-N governments.
