Nawaz Sharif... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
tried Thursday to ease tensions with India by urging both sides to work swiftly to shore up a 10-year ceasefire threatened by recent attacks.
Sharif said that it was imperative for both India and Pakistain to take effective steps to ensure and restore ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC), the heavily militarized border dividing the disputed Kashmire region.
The prime minister expressed these views during a briefing by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials at the Foreign Office in Islamabad.
He made the remarks after a Pak civilian was injured by firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmire.
The remarks also come shortly after the Indian government for the first time directly accused the Mighty Pak Army of involvement in an ambush that killed five Indian soldiers on Monday in Kashmire. Pakistain denied any part in Monday's incident.
India's Defence Minister A.K. Antony alleged that specialist Pak troops had been involved in the attack and hinted at stronger military action.
But Sharif, who was elected in May and who backs rapprochement with India, said he was looking forward to meeting his Indian counterpart on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September.
In remarks and released by his office, he said existing military channels could be more "optimally utilised" to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Pakistain, he said, is prepared to discuss steps with India for further strengthening of existing mechanisms both at the political and military levels.