Prevail upon India to work with us: Nawaz's aide to Kerry

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's key advisor Tuesday said the US being an influential member of the international community could prevail upon India to work with Pakistan for regional peace and economic prosperity.

Sartaz Aziz, adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on national security and foreign affairs, said this while addressing a press conference with visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry here, Dawn reported.

"The cancellation of foreign secretary-level talks by India, followed by the recent incidents of unprovoked and indiscriminate firing on the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary (International Border) are a source of serious concern to Pakistan," he said.

"We hope, therefore, that US as an influential member of the international community can prevail upon India to work with Pakistan towards regional peace and economic prosperity."

Kerry said that Sharif deserved a lot of credit for his leadership in reaching out to his neighbours to develop peace and understanding.

"I can't emphasise enough that it is profoundly in the interest of Pakistan and India to move their relationship forward," Kerry said.

"This is the hardest time to work; it means you have to put a lot of time and effort into overcoming historical mistrust, past events and enmities that come from that history.

"We have to create a pact for sustainable peace through dialogue. We applaud the efforts to do so, we encourage both Pakistan and India to re-engage and the US will do whatever it can to try to help in that effort," Kerry added.