He said that ‘this is an absurd statement’. Sharif, during his recent visit to Abu Dhabi, asked UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan to open talks with India and “vowed” to speak honestly, Dawn reported. Sharif confirmed in an interview to Al-Arabiya news channel that he had sought al-Nahyan’s help for the talks.
What did Shahbaz Sharif say?
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on 12 January during his two-day visit to the UAE. He said that ‘I have requested Mohammad bin Zayed that UAE is a ‘brother’ country of Pakistan. He also has good relations with India and can play a very important role in bringing both the countries to the negotiating table. I assure that we will talk to Indians with full honesty.
‘We have learned our lesson’
This is Sharif’s third visit to the UAE since assuming office in April, which was focused on boosting bilateral economic, trade and investment ties, Dawn news reported. “We have learned our lesson” and “we want to live in peace with India,” Sharif told the interview host, Dawn reported, recalling the bitterness and suffering caused by the three wars in relations with India.