Pakistan's next prime minister wants to end decades-old feud with India

[mota bhai 2,675]

The full scale of Nawaz Sharif's thumping victory in Pakistan's general election became clear on Sunday, making it far more likely the country's next prime minister will be able to govern without coalition deals and be free to push through what supporters see as a potentially revolutionary agenda.

Besides overhauling a moribund economy, Sharif, with his conservative Pakistan Muslim League, wants to end his country's decades-old feud with India and put Pakistan's meddlesome generals in their place.

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Despite the military's muscle, Sharif has made it clear – including in interviews with Indian journalists who have taken a close interest in his campaign – that the army is constitutionally subservient to civilian politicians.

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Kickstarting Pakistan's sluggish economy, which is particularly weighed down by crippling energy shortages, is central to Sharif's entire programme.

He hopes to bolster growth partly by boosting the feeble levels of trade with India, which would also help improve relations between two countries that have fought three major wars against each other since 1947.

"All parties want peace with India," said Safraz. "But only Sharif can deliver because, as a rightwing Punjabi nationalist, his patriotism cannot be questioned. If he was in the PPP, he would have been called a traitor."

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Staffers at the politician's campaign headquarters told the Guardian in April that Sharif, seen as close to Pakistan's conservative Islamists by many in Delhi, had always been pro-Indian. "He started as a businessman after all," one said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/12/nawaz-sharif-victory-pakistan-reform

And more, from Dawn.com:

Nawaz says would invite Indian PM Singh to oath-taking

LAHORE: Nawaz Sharif on Monday said his government would establish friendly ties with India, adding that he would invite Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his oath-taking ceremony to Islamabad.

Edited May 13, 2013 by amriki bhai

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I thought this was Sharif's third term as prime minister.

[mota bhai 2,675]

I thought this was Sharif's third term as prime minister.

It is.

His last term ended when he was hosting the Indian Prime Minister in Islamabad and a rogue general (General Musharraf) decided he wasn't having any of this peace talk and launched an unauthorized invasion of India at Kargil.

Mr. Sharif has said he intends to "pick [up] the threads where we left."

An end to the India-Pakistan feud would be great news for big business. As someone who truly believes that the region's interests are best served by corporations as opposed to government or the military, I approve.

Edited May 13, 2013 by amriki bhai