Nawaz Sharif favours showing restraint on border with India

Calling recent tensions with India on the Line of Control (LoC) as "a matter of concern", Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said Pakistan "will continue to respond to the situation "with restraint and responsibility", Geo News reported.

The LoC divides Jammu and Kashmir between the two countries.

While speaking on India-Pakistan relations to the Turkish media in Ankara, Sharif added that his country was committed to a serious, sustained and constructive engagement with India that must include the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

On the menace of terrorism in Pakistan, Sharif said there were several options available to tackle terrorism, of which the use of force would be the last resort. He said force would be used as a last resort as the Pakistan government wanted to avoid further loss of innocent lives.

"Our challenge is to root out this menace (terrorism) from our midst. Pakistan needs cooperation and support of international community and our neighbours for controlling funding, supply of arms and training to terror networks."

Asked about US drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas, Sharif said they not only violated the country’s sovereignty and international law but were also counterproductive and lead to further radicalisation.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Abdullah Gul Tuesday conferred his country's highest civilian award Jumhuriyet Nishan on Nawaz Sharif.