Modi, Imran talk of a new chapter in bilateral ties
PMLN, PPP set to join hands, take on PTI chairman
ISLAMABAD/NEWDELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Imran Khan on Monday to congratulate him on his party’s performance in the Pakistan elections and reiterated a vision of peace and development for the neighbourhood.
This was the first formal contact between India’s top leadership and the cricketer-turnedpolitician who is expected to be sworn in as prime minister on August 11. Modi’s efforts to forge a relationship with ousted premier Nawaz Sharif ran into problems following a string of terror attacks blamed on Pakistanbased groups.
A statement issued by the external affairs ministry in New Delhi said Modi spoke to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) chairman and congratulated him “for his party emerging as the largest political party in the National Assembly…in the recently conducted general elections”.
Modi also expressed the “hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pakistan” while reiterating his “vision of peace and development in the entire neighbourhood”.
A statement in Urdu issued by the PTI in Islamabad quoted Modi as saying that “he was ready for new chapter in the relations with Pakistan”. The statement further quoted Modi as saying that “both countries will have to adopt a joint policy to take matters forward”.
Modi also conveyed his good intentions and wishes to Khan, the statement added.
According to the PTI statement, Khan said bilateral tensions should be resolved through dialogue. “Wars and bloodshed, instead of resolving tensions, lead to sorrow. To bring the people of both sides out of the merciless grip of poverty, both countries have to make joint efforts,” Khan said.
Earlier, news emerged that Pakistan’s two major parties – the PML-N and PPP – are set to enter into an opposition alliance.
“It was an ice-breaker,” senior PML-N leader Mushahid Hussain Sayed said when he was asked by reporters about the outcome of a meeting held by the two parties in Islamabad. “It was a very good meeting and you can call it a meeting of the minds. Both sides completely reject the election results.”
PPP spokesperson Sherry Rehman said the two parties had urged other parties not to boycott Parliament because by “vacating the space we will be providing a walkover” to the PTI.