Need to begin from where we left: Sharif on ties with India

Emphasising on the need to begin from "where we left in 1999", ex-Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif today promised never to allow the country's soil for anti-India activities and said he will expedite the 26/11 trial here and probe ISI's role in the Mumbai terror attacks if he returns to power.
He stressed on the importance of resolving the Kashmir issue peacefully and suggested that back channel negotiations should be reactivated besides making the 1999 Kargil operations an "open secret".
"We have to start from where we were interrupted in 1999. Vajpayee saab came across, we signed that historic Lahore accord. He had said very good things about Pakistan which are still fresh in my memory. I also reciprocated. I think those times must come back again," Sharif said in an interview to CNN IBN's Devil's Advocate.

He added that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had told him, 'Nawaz saab why can't we declare 1999 as the year of resolution of all problems between India and Pakistan'.
"He has said very good thing. If we get a chance to rule this country, this will be our main priorities", Sharif said.
On cross-border terrorism, the PML-N chief, who is widely expected to form the next government here, said, "We don't want our territory to be used for terrorist activities. These elements are deliberately spoiling the relationship".
Asked about Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, he said, "Many of these organisations have already been banned. If I become prime minister I will make sure that Pakistani soil is never used for any such design against India. We must not allow such speeches to be made against India by anybody including Hafeez Saab".

Replying to a query on terror convict David Headley's statement implicating ISI in the Mumbai attacks, he said, "If he has given such a statement that needs to be verified first...But how far these statements are true, we have to see. I think such issues to be investigated carefully including what happened in Kargil".