File Picture
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Elect – Imran Khan is considering inviting the leaders of the SAARC countries including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his oath taking ceremony , a party official said . If the invite is sent and is accepted , it could well start a new beginning of India – Pakistan relationship. The ties between the two nations have been cold in recent times due to differences on host of issues .
Modi had telephoned Khan to congratulate him on his party’s victory in the general elections and hoped that “Pakistan and India will work to open a new chapter in bilateral ties”. Khan thanked Modi for his wishes and emphasised that disputes should be resolved through dialogue.
“Wars and bloodshed instead of resolving disputes lead to tragedies,” Khan had said. Khan in his victory speech had also said that better relations between Pakistan and India would be “good for all of us”.
It may be recalled the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his oath taking ceremony on May 26, 2014 after the BJP led NDA won the Lok Sabha Polls.
The PTI, led by 65-year-old Khan, has emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly after the July 25 elections, but it is still short of numbers to form the government on its own. Khan, though appeared confident and said that he would take oath as prime minister on August 11.
“The core committee of Tehreek-i-Insaf is considering inviting the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) heads including Modi and a decision on this is expected shortly,” a leader of Khan’s party told PTI.
He also termed Modi’s telephone call to Khan on his victory in the 2018 polls a welcoming sign to begin a new chapter in relations between the two countries.
Spokesperson for Khan’s party Fawad Chaudhry also did not rule out inviting Modi to the swearing in ceremony.
“A decision about it will be taken by the party in consultation with the foreign ministry in coming days,” he said.
