... 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...
in a key foreign policy speech on Thursday said his government would protect national interests in the face of increased Indian bellicosity and that resolution of the Kashmire dispute would remain a priority.
Addressing the concluding session of a three-day envoys conference, Mr Sharif said: "We will protect our vital interests at all costs. This message must be heard loud and clear."
The conference attended by Pak envoys posted in Saarc, ECO and Gulf countries was convened to discuss the prospects of regional connectivity projects and frame recommendations for the government in this regard.
Mr Sharif, in his speech before an audience comprising the country's senior diplomats which was also telecast live, responded to some of the hostile statements made by the Indian leadership, including a couple by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi accusing Pakistain of "promoting terrorism", and creating "nuisance", besides reminding it about the sad events of 1971 which led to creation of Bangladesh, and boasting about the Indian role in the separation.
"The entire nation is dismayed by the recent irresponsible and, I must say, imprudent statements from the Indian politicianship. This vitiates the atmosphere and takes us farther away from our goals of regional peace and stability," the prime minister said, adding that Indian provocations would not make Pakistain abandon its "high moral ground".
Referring to his meeting with UN Secretary General
the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
earlier this week in which he renewed the call for implementation of the Security Council's resolutions on Kashmire, Mr Sharif said: "The issue of Jammu and Kashmire cannot be relegated to the backburner of history."
Kashmire has once again taken the centre stage in the strained Pakistain-India ties.
In an allusion to India, he said that "externally sponsored terrorism" along with violent extremism posed the gravest threat to national security.