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Business Recorder
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Need for Pakistan-India peace dialogue
EDITORIAL: During a recent meeting with British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan's readiness for 'meaningful dialogue' with India. This expression of willingness comes at a time when bilateral relations have been severely strained by years of tensions, fuelled by the ultranationalist rhetoric of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a recent military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed nations. Since Modi assumed office in 2014, relations between India and Pakistan have sharply deteriorated. Under his leadership, India has seen a surge in rhetoric that not only targets Pakistan but also intensifies hostility towards the country's Muslim minority. This rhetoric has served his government as both a political tool during elections and a cornerstone of foreign policy, significantly diminishing the political space for dialogue or reconciliation with Pakistan—particularly on sensitive issues like Kashmir. The outcome has been a hardening of stance and an increased reliance on military assertiveness. A glaring example of this escalation was the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. India quickly accused Pakistan of involvement, though it has yet to present compelling evidence to the international community. Shortly thereafter, on May 6, India launched missile and drone strikes deep inside Pakistan, violating international law while claiming to target terrorist hideouts. Prime Minister Modi referred to the extreme provocation as the 'new normal', setting a dangerous precedent that could have spiralled into a full-scale war. Pakistan responded decisively, downing six Indian warplanes, before US President Donald Trump intervened to broker a ceasefire. Left embarrassed by the developments, Modi later stated that India had taken a 'pause' in hostilities. This implied the threat of renewed conflict. Such brinkmanship significantly heightens the risk of miscalculation, especially given that India and Pakistan have fought three wars over Kashmir and quite a few limited confrontations. Continued hostility jeopardises the peace and stability of this region, and beyond. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has, for example, rightly stated, 'The world cannot afford another conflict in South Asia. Both countries must find common ground, even if it means taking small steps toward peace.' PM Sharif's emphasis on 'meaningful' dialogue underscores Pakistan's desire for a structured, result-oriented peace process. It signals Pakistan's willingness to engage constructively on issues of mutual concern, such as counterterrorism, water disputes, and trade. As a matter of fact, for several years in the past both sides had engaged in structured dialogue under the Composite Dialogue framework, addressing a wide-range of issues — including the core issue of Kashmir. From Pakistan's perspective, renewing the peace dialogue is not only possible but essential. However, as long as Modi is at the helm of power, peace with Pakistan remains a distant prospect. His government's hardline stance and focus on zero-sum national security rhetoric leave little room for diplomatic flexibility. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
PM reiterates talk offer to India
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said Pakistan was ready for a meaningful dialogue with India on all outstanding issues. The prime minister stated this during his meeting with British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release. The prime minister expressed his appreciation for the UK's role in de-escalation of tensions during the Pakistan-India stand-off. He welcomed the UK government's recent decision to resume PIA flights to and from the UK, which he said, would go a long way in alleviating the hardships faced by the British Pakistani community as well as enhancing people-to-people exchanges. He particularly appreciated the role of the high commissioner in this regard. The regional situation in South Asia and the Middle East was also discussed. The UK high commissioner thanked the prime minister for receiving her and briefed him about her recent visit to London, where she had extensive consultations on enhancing Pakistan-UK bilateral ties. She lauded the government's economic performance in the last year and a half, under the vision and leadership of the prime minister, which had brought about a significant improvement in all key macro-economic indicators. She also shared with the prime minister, the UK's perspective on regional developments in South Asia and the Middle East. Privatization Commission Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the authorities to ensure that the Privatization Commission would be given full autonomy as per the law to eliminate red tape and unnecessary elements during the denationalisation process of the state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The prime minister chaired a review meeting on the progress of privatization of SOEs here at the Prime Minister's Office, a PM Office news release said.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Pakistan open to 'meaningful dialogue' with India: PM Shehbaz Sharif
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reiterated Pakistan's willingness to engage in a "meaningful dialogue" with India to resolve all outstanding issues. His remarks came during a meeting with British High Commissioner Jane Marriott at the Prime Minister's House, according to an official statement. The two leaders discussed regional developments in South Asia and the Middle East, as well as ongoing bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. 'The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the UK's role in helping de-escalate tensions during the recent Pakistan-India standoff, and reaffirmed Pakistan's readiness for a meaningful dialogue with India on all unresolved matters,' the statement read.
Express Tribune
17-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PIA returns to UK skies after five years
PIA's bidding is expected to take place in the last quarter (October-December) of the current calendar year, said Muhammad Ali, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation. photo: file Listen to article Britain has lifted a five-year ban on Pakistani airlines, allowing them to apply to resume UK flights just as the government steps up efforts to privatise the Pakistan International Airlines. The ban was imposed in 2020, days after the government launched an investigation into the validity of pilot licences issued in the country following a PIA plane crash that killed 97 people. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said the lifting of the ban followed safety improvements by Pakistani authorities. The decision comes just months after the European Union took similar steps. "I'm grateful to aviation experts in the UK and Pakistan for their collaborative work to drive improvements to meet international safety standards. While it will take time for flights to resume, once the logistics are in place, I look forward to using a Pakistani carrier when visiting family and friends," she said. The lifting of the ban is expected to bring immense relief and opportunity to the over 1.6 million British residents of Pakistani heritage and thousands of British nationals living in Pakistan. It also comes as a potential catalyst for enhancing the £4.7 billion bilateral trade between the two countries. With airspace now cleared, the skies are once again open for stronger people-to-people connections and economic cooperation between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. While several private Pakistani airlines operate domestically and on regional routes, primarily to the Middle East, PIA has historically been the only carrier to operate long-haul flights to Britain and the European Union. PIA had previously estimated an annual revenue loss of around Rs40 billion ($144 million) due to the ban. The airline has long considered UK routes, including London, Manchester, and Birmingham, among its most profitable, and holds sought-after landing slots at London's Heathrow Airport that could become active again. PIA's spokesperson said the airline was finalizing preparations to resume UK flights "in the shortest possible time" and had submitted its proposed schedule. Flights would resume with the Islamabad-Manchester route, with three weekly flights planned initially pending schedule approval, the spokesperson added. Earlier this month, the Privatisation Commission approved four groups to bid for a 51-100% stake in PIA. Final bids are expected later this year. The government is hoping that recent reforms, which led to the airline's first operating profit in 21 years - will help attract buyers under a broader IMF-backed privatisation push. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told a news conference on Wednesday that the resumption of all routes would improve PIA's value ahead of the privatisation. He also said there were plans to restart flights to New York. "Pakistan will apply for an operating licence to resume direct flights to the UK," he said. Asif criticised an irresponsible statement by then-Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for triggering the ban on PIA operations in European countries and the UK. Ghulam Sarwar's remarks caused irreparable damage to the reputation of both PIA and Pakistan, he added. In response to a question, he said that various consortiums had shown interest in the PIA privatisation process. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, welcoming the UK Air Safety Board's decision, said the "positive development" would improve Pakistan's international reputation and further strengthen bilateral cooperation. The prime minister also congratulated the defence minister on the lifting of the ban. In a meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office, PM Shehbaz commended the efforts of the Defence Minister and his team, as well as the Aviation Division, for their dedicated work in achieving this diplomatic and operational breakthrough. "The resumption of Pakistani flights to the UK marks an extremely important achievement for the country," the prime minister said, noting that this step would greatly facilitate travel for the large Pakistani diaspora in the UK and boost tourism between the two countries. (With additional input from agencies)
16-07-2025
- Business
UK lifts years-long ban on Pakistani airlines after improvement in air safety standards
ISLAMABAD -- Britain has lifted a years-long ban on Pakistani airlines following improvements in the country's aviation safety standards, the British diplomatic mission in Islamabad said Wednesday. The U.K.'s Air Safety Committee imposed the ban after Pakistan's aviation minister in June 2020 disclosed that nearly one-third of the country's pilots had cheated on their licensing exams. The claim came after a Pakistan International Airlines crash killed 97 people on May 24, 2020, in the southern city of Karachi. Wednesday's announcement follows a broader international recognition of Pakistan's efforts to improve air safety. Earlier this year, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency also lifted its five-year-long ban, allowing the national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines to resume direct flights to Europe. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said that after 'extensive engagement' between the U.K.'s Air Safety Committee and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, restrictions on Pakistani airlines have now been lifted. U.K. diplomatic missions in Commonwealth countries are known as high commissions and are equivalent to embassies. However, Marriott said individual airlines will still need to apply for operating permits from the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority. 'I'm grateful to aviation experts in both the U.K. and Pakistan for their collaborative work to meet international safety standards,' she said. 'While it will take time for flights to resume, once the logistics are in place, I look forward to using a Pakistani carrier when visiting family and friends." The high commission emphasized that decisions on delisting countries or carriers from the U.K. Air Safety List are made through an independent safety process overseen by the Air Safety Committee. With more than 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the U.K., and thousands of British nationals residing in Pakistan, it said the move will help families to reconnect and potentially boost bilateral trade ties. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif welcomed the decision. Speaking at a televised news conference on Wednesday, he attributed the ban to what he described as 'baseless' remarks made by former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan. He said Khan's claim tarnished the country's image and triggered significant financial losses for Pakistan International Airlines.
