April 28, 2016
ISLAMABAD – If there is any doubt on who calls the shots in Pakistan – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif or Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif – this incident dispels it.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif. (File Photo/Getty)
April 28, 2016
ISLAMABAD – If there is any doubt on who calls the shots in Pakistan – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif or Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif – this incident dispels it.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif. (File Photo/Getty)
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, on his return from New Delhi on Tuesday after meeting his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar, was made to brief general Sharif first before meeting his prime minister, sources told CNN-News18
And this was how it happened – midway to Islamabad, Chaudhry was informed that his flight was being diverted to Lahore where General Sharif was camping. He landed in Lahore at 9.38pm and was driven straight to brief the army chief on his discussions in India.
It was one full day later that Chaudhry met PM Nawaz Sharif and briefed about his India visit – a clear indication on who decides foreign policy in Pakistan.
During the foreign secretary-level talks in Delhi, India had asked Pakistan to stop being in denial on terror while seeking action on the 26/11 and Pathankot attacks.
Jaishankar told his Pakistani counterpart that terror groups cannot be allowed to operate with impunity and also denied India's involvement in the insurgency in Pakistan's Balochistan. He demanded consular access for former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested in Pakistan on charges of espionage.
But Pakistan maintained that Kashmir remained a core issue and stressed on the Samjhauta Express blasts probe, saying India has not shared any investigation report.
Courtesy: IBN
