UNITED NATIONS: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Friday categorically demanded an immediate halt to drone attacks as they were a sheer violation of country's sovereignty.
"The attacks conducted by US-led NATO forces on Pakistani soil using unmanned spy planes are counter-productive to the anti-extremism efforts", Sharif said while addressing the General Assembly of United Nations here in New York.
He added that he had urged the United States to cease these strikes, so that further casualties and sufferings could be averted.
Pakistan and India have wasted "massive resources" on a nuclear arms race, Sharif said ahead of a landmark meeting with his Indian counterpart.
"Our two countries have wasted massive resources in an arms race," Sharif said in his speech to the assembly. Both sides have spent huge amounts on developing a nuclear bomb over the past three decades.
"We could have used those resources for the economic well-being of our people," he added.
"We still have that opportunity. Pakistan and India can prosper together; and the entire region would benefit from our cooperation."
Sharif said: "We stand ready to re-engage with India in a substantive and purposeful dialogue."
The Pakistan premier, elected this year, said he was looking forward to the chance "to make a new beginning" and added "we have a solid basis to do that."
Sharif said Pakistan and India must build on a 1999 accord which called for the resolution of all differences through negotiations.
"I am committed to working for a peaceful and economically prosperous region. This is what our people want and this is what I have long aspired for," Sharif said.
He pointed out that shortly after assuming office‚ he received a message of goodwill from the Indian Prime Minister.
Mian Nawaz Sharif said he invited the Indian Prime Minister to engage with Pakistan to address all outstanding issues between the two countries. He said Indian Prime Minister's response was positive.
Sharif said he was looking forward to meeting India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and told the UN General Assembly: "Our two countries have wasted massive resources in an arms race."
"I am looking forward to meeting with India's leader to "make a new beginning" in the relationship between the two neighboring nuclear powers", he said.
Nawaz Sharif is expected to meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday, on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN.
However on Kashmir, he said that suffering of the people cannot be brushed under the carpet‚ because of power politics.
He called upon the international community to give an opportunity to Kashmiris to decide their future peacefully‚ in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.
He said the issue of Jammu and Kashmir was presented to the Security Council in January 1948 and yet the issue remains unresolved after nearly seven decades.
The Prime Minister said he has an aspiration for regional peace and stability. He said he had shared this vision with leaders in our neighborhood.
About Afghanistan‚ the Prime Minister said Pakistan supports an inclusive‚ Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process‚ leading to national reconciliation. Mian Nawaz Sharif said during his visit to Pakistan‚ he assured President Hamid Karzai that Pakistan does not wish to interfere in Afghanistan's internal affairs and its has no favorites in that country.
He said Pakistan encourages UN efforts for the stabilization of Afghanistan. We will work together withd Afghanstan for regional and economic cooperation that would establish and reinforce regional trade‚ energy and communications corridors.
He said a manifestation of our solidarity with the Afghan people has been our willingness to hist millions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan for many decades.
In his address‚ the Prime Minister said as a country that had suffered grievously for the past many years‚ Pakistan condemned terrorism‚ in all its forms and manifestations.
"In the past5 12 years‚ it has given huge sacrifices‚ in blood and resources" Sharif said.
"We have lost forty thousand precious lives of men‚ women and children including eight thousand defense and security personnel" the PM added.
He said there have been colossal damages to social and physical infrastructures as well. "Our economy has been denied the opportunity to grow fully. This must change now", he added.
The Prime Minister said he had tried to forge national consensus on a cohesive policy to eliminate terrorism from our soil.
"We are resolved to oppose the forces of terrorism‚ by all means at our disposal", said he.
At the same time‚ we have offered dialogue to end violence‚ wean young extremists off extremism‚ and integrate all segments of our society into the national mainstream. He‚ however‚ said dialogue should not be seen as a sign of weakness or a tool of appeasement.
The Prime Minister said the war against terrorism must be waged within the framework of international law.
He said the use of armed drones in the border areas of Pakistan was a continued violation of our territorial integrity.
"It results in casualties of innocent civilians and is detrimental to our resolve and efforts to eliminate extremism and terrorism from Pakistan."
