Claiming that Pakistan is "neither a source nor an epicentre" of terrorism, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on Tuesday, said the US was in a position to help his country resolve its differences with India, including the "core" issue of Kashmir.
A day ahead of his meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House, Sharif contended the US was well placed to resolve outstanding issues because of its growing relationship with India. His insistence on American mediation on Kashmir came despite the rejection of such a move by both the US and India.
Addressing the think tank US Institute of Pakistan (USIP), Sharif said Pakistan is "neither a source of, nor the epicentre of terrorism, as is sometimes alleged".
"In fact, Pakistan itself has been a major victim of terrorism for over a decade," he said. Sharif acknowledged that the greatest challenge to Pakistan comes from terrorism and extremism.
His remarks were an apparent response to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's assertion during a meeting with Obama last month that Pakistan is the epicentre of terrorism in India's neighbourhood.
Reiterating his call for American mediation to resolve issues with India, Sharif said, "Pakistan appreciates the constructive role the US has historically played in defusing tensions between Pakistan and India.
"With its growing influence in India, the US now has the capacity to do more to help the two sides resolve their core disputes, including Kashmir, and in promoting a culture of cooperation."
Sharif said his government is firmly resolved to end the cycle of violence in Pakistan but this "cannot be done overnight, nor can it be done by unleashing senseless force against its citizens, without first making every effort to bring the misguided and confused elements of society back to the mainstream".
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