M A I N   N E W S

K-trouble for Sharif back home; ‘anti-Modi’ resolution blocked
Afzal Khan in Islamabad

‘Kashmir issue was raised’ Prime Minister Sharif discussed the Kashmir issue during his meeting with Modi. It was, however, a ceremonial meeting and no occasion to undertake substantive deliberations on any issue, including Kashmir. Sartaj Aziz, adviser to pak pm US ‘cautiously hopeful’ Washington: The US has applauded the meeting between Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif, as senior administration officials said they were “cautiously hopeful” about the improvement in the relationship between the two South Asian neighbours. "We are cautiously hopeful that it (Modi-Sharif) could be a positive indicator," a senior Obama administration official said. — PTI

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today appeared in trouble over his India visit with hardliners accusing him of sidelining the Kashmir issue and allowing his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to adopt an aggressive tone over the issue of terrorism.

In fact, a resolution condemning Modi over his “allegations of terrorism against Pakistan” was blocked in the Assembly of Pakistan’s Punjab province. The opposition comprising Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, the PPP, PML-Q and Jamaat-e-Islami wanted to bring an “anti-Modi” resolution in the 372-member House but Speaker Rana Iqbal did not allow it. Opposition members started raising slogans against India and the ruling PML-N government as they tore the copies of the agenda of today's proceedings.

Sharif’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz sought to defend the government in the face of sharp criticism over the visit. At a media briefing, he said the Premier’s meeting with Modi was a constructive one while asserting that the Kashmir issue had not been sidelined.