In his inaugural address on Monday, new Pakistani Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, 70, appeared to suggest that he is open to re-engaging in diplomatic efforts with India, noting that neighbours are “not a matter of choice” but “something you have to live with.” In this regard, Sharif blamed now-former PM Imran Khan’s foreign policy for not making “serious and diplomatic efforts” with India after New Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019.
In fact, Sharif devoted more time to India in his foreign policy segment than any other country, including Pakistan’s all-weather ally China and the United States (US), the latter of which Khan has continued to accuse of being behind a foreign-funded conspiracy to remove him from power.
Pakistan gets new PM
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) April 11, 2022
Listen in to Shehbaz Sharif's victory speech, live from Pakistan Parliament #Pakistan #PM #ShehbazSharif #5iveLIVE | @nabilajamal_ pic.twitter.com/pbSsncxCYG
“We desire good relations with India but there cannot be lasting peace till the equitable resolution of the Kashmir issue. I would give Prime Minister Modi this advice that you should understand about the poverty, unemployment [and] sickness on both sides. People don’t have medicines, education, trade or jobs. Why do we want to cause harm to ourselves and the coming generations?” Sharif stressed.
He further called on New Delhi to “decide the Kashmir issue according to United Nations resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people and end poverty on both sides and create jobs, and bring progress and prosperity.” “We will raise our voice for Kashmiri brothers and sisters at every forum and undertake diplomatic efforts. We will offer diplomatic and moral support, this is our right, they are our brothers,” the new leader assured.
Congratulations to H. E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 11, 2022
With respect to its strongest regional ally, China, the younger brother of three-time former PM Nawaz Sharif said that no one should doubt China’s role as a stable ally of Pakistan in good and bad times. Sharif hailed the unchanging nature of their bilateral ties, irrespective of change of government and lauded Beijing for consistently backing Islamabad at international forums. He once again attacked Khan’s PTI government for weakening ties with Beijing. The Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) president also pledged that his government will speedily pave the way for the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the centrepiece project of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative. However, he did not indicate whether there will be any change on Pakistan’s refusal to bring up the issue of the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang region, a policy that has been kept in place by various administrations in Islamabad over the years.
On the topic of the US and former PM Khan’s allegations about the Sharif-led opposition colluding with Washington to oust the PTI government, the new PM pledged to provide the parliamentary committee on security with an in-camera briefing on the alleged diplomatic cable. The briefing will be attended by the country’s top military leadership, including the Inter-Services Intelligence chief, the foreign secretary, and Pakistan’s former envoy to the US who sent the cable. Sharif promised to immediately resign if any evidence of a foreign conspiracy was found.
We are demanding immediate elections as that is the only way forward -- to let the people decide, through fair & free elections, whom they want as their prime minister.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 11, 2022
Several senior officials from PTI, including Khan, have repeatedly cited a “threat letter,” which they say proved that the move to oust him was a part of a “foreign-funded conspiracy.” This claim has also been supported by the country’s National Security Committee (NSC). An undisclosed senior government official previously clarified to The News International that the letter was not a direct message from high-ranking American officials, but rather a diplomatic cable sent by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed Khan, to Islamabad on March 7.
Last Sunday, during a meeting with his party officials and after weeks of speculation, Khan finally revealed that US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu was the foreign official behind the alleged conspiracy, alleging that Lu told the Pakistani ambassador that there would be consequences if Khan was not removed via the trust vote.. However, the US has categorically rejected Khan’s allegations. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price stressed two weeks ago that there is “no truth” to Khan’s claims.
Against this backdrop, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Monday reaffirmed that Washington “supports peaceful upholding of constitutional democratic principles, we don’t support one political party over another.” She also underscored that the US “values” its “long-standing cooperation” with Pakistan, which she said is “critical to US interests that remain unchanged regardless” of who is in power.
A political portfolio of Pakistan's new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif:
— South Asia Index (@SouthAsiaIndex) April 11, 2022
✧ Shehbaz Sharif is brother of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
✧ He became CM of Pakistan's province Punjab for first time in in February 1997 & remained in office till October 1999.
With regards to Pakistan’s ongoing economic crisis, Sharif said that the current account, budget, and trade deficits were all at a record high and promised to make the country a “paradise for investments.” Sharif also enjoys strong relations with the country’s powerful military, which keeps a tight grip on the government’s foreign and defence policy.
Sharif became Pakistan’s newly elected as the country’s 23rd PM on Monday via a vote in the National Assembly (NA) to replace Imran Khan, who was ousted via a no-confidence motion on Sunday after his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lost its the majority in the 342-member NA. The parliamentary vote was boycotted by more than 100 MPs from now-former PM Khan’s party. As a result, the three-time former chief minister of Punjab was left as the sole contender for the post after the only other rival—Khan loyalist Shah Mahmood Qureshi—withdrew as PTI’s candidate and resigned from his position. Sharif secured the position with 174 votes—two more than the required simple majority.
I want to congratulate people of Pakistan on peaceful transition of power. It’s matter of pride that today all our institutions respect Constitution as guiding principle. If stock market & strengthening currency is any indication, the journey towards our goals has already started
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 11, 2022
Sharif’s decision to submit his nomination for PM on Monday was met with severe objection from several senior PTI members, who have cited pending money laundering and corruption charges against him.
Khan was the first PM in Pakistan’s history to be removed via a trust vote, which is the only constitutional way to oust a sitting leader. He also continues the legacy of his predecessors, none of whom were able to complete their five-year term as PM. His ouster resulted in massive nationwide protests in Karachi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Vehari, and Jhelum.