Sharif urges US to stop drone attacks in Pak to reduce mistrust between them

LAHORE - Pakistan Muslim League- N Chief Nawaz Sharif has said that mistrust between the United States and his nation cannot be ended without stopping drone attacks.

Sharif also made it clear that the Obama Administration will have to remove reservations of Pakistani people, The News reported.

He made these comments while talking to US Ambassador Cameron Munter, who had called on him at Raiwind.

The PML-N chief also urged the US to play an active role for the promotion of peace and stability in South Asia. He was of the view that since the US was a friend of both Pakistan and India, it was in a position to play the said role.

Peace and stability in the region could only be ensured by facilitating resolution of the differences that have plagued the region for years, said Sharif, adding that the US should establish with Pakistan a relationship of mutual interest and mutual respect.

The former premier recalled that he had warmly welcomed US President Barack Obama’s references during his election campaign to the important role played by Pakistan in the region and beyond.

Sharif also called upon the US to shift its focus away from the single item agenda that it had pursued over the years, and to build more meaningful ties with Pakistan, based on identifying initiatives that could improve the lives and livelihood of the people of the country.

He stressed that the Obama Administration should give greater priority to trade rather than aid to achieve this objective, and to encourage investment in Pakistan’s critical sectors of the economy, including power, energy, agriculture and education. (ANI)