Congratulating Imran Khan to emerge as the single largest party in Pakistan in the recent general elections, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a telephonic conversation that he hopes democracy will take deeper roots in the country.
The former cricketer-turned politician announced to take oath as the next prime minister of Pakistan on August 11.
It is learned the two leaders had a telephonic conversation at late evening today but how long the talk continued is not known.
A source added, “They recalled their meeting in December 2015 and conversation from that time…and hoped to pick up the thread from there.”
Meanwhile, Ministry of External Affairs released an official statement saying, “Prime Minister expressed hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pakistan… (Modi) reiterated his vision of peace and development in the entire neighborhood.”
However, the statement released by ministry didn’t refer about terror-free atmosphere.
The general elections in Pakistan were held on July 26 and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party emerged victorious winning 116 of the 270 seats. He then stressed both India and Pakistan need to end the blame game over issues related to Kashmir and Balochistan. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party of jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif won just 64 seats while 43 seats were grabbed by former president Asif Ali Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
The 65-year-old added, “If India takes one step towards us, we will take two steps toward them…but at least (we) need a start. Right now, it is one-sided where India is constantly just blaming us.”
MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar earlier had said he hopes to see a prosperous and progressive Pakistan.
