Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday congratulated his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on his victory in the general elections and expressed desire to work with him for peace, progress and prosperity in the region.
Prime Minister Modi led his Bharatiya Janata Party towards what looks setto be a resounding victory for a second term in office.
“I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJPand allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperityin South Asia,” Khan tweeted.
The results of India’s general elections are very significant forPakistan as the formation of the next government in New Delhi will determinethe course of Indo-Pakistan ties, which were pushed to a new low after thePulwama attack.
In April, Khan said he believed there may be a better chance of peacetalks with India and settle the Kashmir issue if Modi’s party BJP wins thegeneral elections.
Tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after a suicide bomber ofJaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir’s Pulwama districton February 14.
Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out anoperation, hitting the ‘biggest’ JeM training camp in Balakot, deep insidePakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downeda MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an IAF pilot, who was handed over toIndia.
On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said thathis country has delivered a “message of peace” by opening theKartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims from India as he underlined the importanceof “conflict resolution” for peace and stability in South Asia.
Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of ForeignMinisters’ meeting in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, also attended by ExternalAffairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Qureshi said enduring peace and prosperity inSouth Asia will remain elusive without good-faith diplomacy and result-orienteddialogue.