<p>Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Tuesday after "a very good meeting" with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi that it was time to open "a new page" in bilateral relationship.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Sharif told the media before flying back to Islamabad that he had underlined to Modi, who became prime minister a day earlier, that India as well as Pakistan needed peace to build their economies. <br /><br />Sharif described his 45-minute meeting with Modi at the Hyderabad House as "very good and constructive" and added: "It was held in a warm and cordial atmosphere." <br /><br />He told Modi that he desired to take forward the peace process that he had initiated with then Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999 until it was derailed by a military coup.<br /><br />"I intend to pick up the threads of the Lahore peace declaration."<br /><br />The Pakistani premier said his own election and Modi's electoral victory - both "with a clear mandate" - "should be a historic opportunity for both our countries".<br /><br />This, he said, "provides us the opportunity of meeting the hopes and aspirations of our people" and added that he hoped "to succeed and turn a new page in our relationship". <br /><br />He recalled to Modi his invitation to the now ailing Vajpayee to Lahore in February 1999 "and told him that I intend to pick up the threads of the Lahore declaration" of peace. <br /><br />"I stressed that we have a common agenda of economic revival which is not possible to achieve without peace." <br /><br />Sharif said he urged Modi "to strive to change confrontation to cooperation" and added his government was "ready to discuss all issues in a spirit of cooperation".<br /><br />"After all we owe it to our people ... to rid the region of instability and insecurity that has plagued us for decades.<br /><br />"Accusations and counter-accusations will be counter productive... We must end the legacy of mistrust."<br /><br />"Modi warmly reciprocated my sentiments," Sharif said.<br /><br />Modi and Sharif agreed to let the two foreign secretaries meet soon to carry forward the bilateral agenda. <br /><br />Sharif said he also had "warm and friendly exchanges" with President Pranab Mukherjee after meeting Modi.</p>
<p>Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Tuesday after "a very good meeting" with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi that it was time to open "a new page" in bilateral relationship.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Sharif told the media before flying back to Islamabad that he had underlined to Modi, who became prime minister a day earlier, that India as well as Pakistan needed peace to build their economies. <br /><br />Sharif described his 45-minute meeting with Modi at the Hyderabad House as "very good and constructive" and added: "It was held in a warm and cordial atmosphere." <br /><br />He told Modi that he desired to take forward the peace process that he had initiated with then Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999 until it was derailed by a military coup.<br /><br />"I intend to pick up the threads of the Lahore peace declaration."<br /><br />The Pakistani premier said his own election and Modi's electoral victory - both "with a clear mandate" - "should be a historic opportunity for both our countries".<br /><br />This, he said, "provides us the opportunity of meeting the hopes and aspirations of our people" and added that he hoped "to succeed and turn a new page in our relationship". <br /><br />He recalled to Modi his invitation to the now ailing Vajpayee to Lahore in February 1999 "and told him that I intend to pick up the threads of the Lahore declaration" of peace. <br /><br />"I stressed that we have a common agenda of economic revival which is not possible to achieve without peace." <br /><br />Sharif said he urged Modi "to strive to change confrontation to cooperation" and added his government was "ready to discuss all issues in a spirit of cooperation".<br /><br />"After all we owe it to our people ... to rid the region of instability and insecurity that has plagued us for decades.<br /><br />"Accusations and counter-accusations will be counter productive... We must end the legacy of mistrust."<br /><br />"Modi warmly reciprocated my sentiments," Sharif said.<br /><br />Modi and Sharif agreed to let the two foreign secretaries meet soon to carry forward the bilateral agenda. <br /><br />Sharif said he also had "warm and friendly exchanges" with President Pranab Mukherjee after meeting Modi.</p>