Sharif promises talks with India on Kashmir issue

Nawaz Sharif, who was Sunday poised to return to power in Pakistan after a 14-year hiatus, said a new round of talks will be resumed with India on the Kashmir issue, a media report said.

Addressing media persons after his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged as the leading party in the general election, Sharif said he will also hold talks with the US on a number of issues, including drone attacks in Pakistan's northwest tribal region, Dunya News reported.

Sharif said a new round of talks will be resumed with India on the issue of Kashmir, and that ties with neighbouring countries will also be strengthened.

The last meetings at the top leadership level were held between Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at New Delhi and Tehran in April and August 2012.

India's then minister of external affairs S.M. Krishna met his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar in Islamabad in September 2012 to review progress in the dialogue process.

Of 152 seats so far secured by different parties, the PML-N bagged 86 seats, 21 went to Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and 15 to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of President Asif Ali Zardari.

Among others, nine went to independent candidates, eight to Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), four to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), two to Jamat-e-Islami, two to Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and five to others, reported Xinhua.

The National Assembly has a total of 342 seats. Elections were held to 268 seats.