India hopes new Pak govt will work towards safe and terror-free South Asia

In its first reaction on general elections in Pakistan, India on Saturday hoped the new government in Islamabad will work constructively to build a safe, stable and secure South Asia "free of terror" and "violence".

Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said India desires a "prosperous and progressive Pakistan at peace with its neighbours".

He said India welcomed that the people of Pakistan have reposed their faith in democracy through general elections, reports PTI.

"We hope that the new government of Pakistan will work constructively to build a safe, stable, secure and developed South Asia free of terror and violence," Kumar said.

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan is likely to become Pakistan's next prime minister as his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has emerged as the single largest party in the elections held on July 25, winning 116 of the 270 seats.

Jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 64 seats and former president Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with 43 seats are placed at number two and three respectively.

As election results indicated that his party was on course to wrest power, Khan on Thursday said Pakistan was ready to improve its ties with India and his government would like the leaders of the two sides to resolve all disputes, including the "core issue" of Kashmir, through talks. "If they take one step towards us, we will take two, but at least (we) need a start," he said.

Ties between India and Pakistan have nose-dived in the last few years over cross-border terrorism. Relations worsened after terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups on several military bases in India.

New Delhi has been maintaining that Pakistan must stop terror activities from its soil for any meaningful talks between the two countries to resolve the outstanding issues.

Though Khan talked about his willingness to engage with India, strategic affairs experts here said there was very little possibility of any improvement in ties between the two neighbours if he becomes Pakistan's prime minister.

They said the former cricketer has been "propped" by the Pakistani military and he was unlikely to change Islamabad's policy towards New Delhi.

Cricketer-turnedpolitician Imran Khan is likely to become Pakistan's next prime minister as his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has emerged as the single largest party in the elections held on July 25, winning 116 of the 270 seats.