NEW DELHI: A day after PM Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minister for the third time, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his brother former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif both sent separate congratulatory messages to him.
“My warm felicitations to Modi Ji on assuming office for the third time. Your party's success in recent elections reflects the confidence of the people in your leadership. Let us replace hate with hope and seize the opportunity to shape the destiny of the two billion people of South Asia,” said former PM Nawaz Sharif.
PM Modi in response to Nawaz Sharif reiterated that India always stood for peace.
“Appreciate your message Nawaz Sharif. The people of India have always stood for peace, security and progressive ideas. Advancing the well-being and security of our people shall always remain our priority,” said PM Modi.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif too extended his wishes.
“Felicitations to Narendra Modi on taking oath as the Prime Minister of India,” said Shehbaz Sharif and PM Modi thanked him for the same.
Even though diplomacy was downgraded between India and Pakistan in 2019 after India abrogated Article 370, the leadership in Pakistan is setting the tone for restoration of ties.
On May 28, Nawaz Sharif blamed Pakistan for violating the Lahore Peace Agreement. He said this when he was elected as PML-N President.
“On May 28th, 1998, Pakistan carried out five nuclear tests. After that Vajpayee Saheb came here and made an agreement with us. But we violated that agreement,” Nawaz Sharif had said.
Whether Pakistan actually says what it means, only time will tell.
India has maintained that it wants peace but it has to be after Pakistan stops encouraging terrorism against India. On Sunday, nine pilgrims were killed in a terror attack in Reasi (Jammu and Kashmir) the day PM Modi was sworn in. India has zero tolerance for terrorism and such attacks must stop before bilateral ties between India and Pakistan limp back to normalcy.
