Indian envoys to hold meeting with Imran: Sources

Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria and Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh will hold a courtesy meeting with Pakistan's Prime Minister-designate Imran Khan on Friday at 4:30 pm, according to sources.

On July 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Khan as his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party emerged as the largest political party in the recently concluded general elections and expressed hope that democracy would take deeper roots in Pakistan.

According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Prime Minister Modi called for peace and development in the entire neighbourhood.

Pakistan went to polls on July 25 and the PTI had emerged as the single largest party with 116 seats after the Election Commission of Pakistan released the complete results for 270 of 272 National Assembly (NA) constituencies.

On July 28, the MEA in a statement said that "India desired to have a prosperous and progressive Pakistan at peace with its neighbours." In response to questions from the media regarding the general elections in Pakistan, MEA official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "We welcome that the people of Pakistan have reposed their faith in democracy through general elections. India desires to have a prosperous and progressive Pakistan at peace with its neighbours."

India expressed hope that the newly elected government would work constructively to build a safe, stable, secure and developed South Asia which will be free of terrorism and violence.

In his first speech after the general elections, Khan said he wanted to have good relations with India and work to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue. Mentioning Kashmir as the core issue of dispute between the two nations, he said that it was time the two countries sat across the table and discussed the issues of concern.

"We should sit across and resolve the issues instead of we blaming India for problems in Balochistan and they blame us for problems in Kashmir. I can say that if you (India) will take one step forward, we will take two steps forward. The relationship between the two countries has been one-sided so far and Pakistan has been blamed for all sorts of terrorism in the world. We want friendship with India and want to resolve all issues through dialogue," Khan elucidated.

Amid speculations about Khan's swearing-in dates, the Pakistani media ran a report quoting PTI Senator Faisal Javed saying that the former would take oath on August 18.

The PTI has claimed that it had enough numbers to form the government at the centre in coalition with other smaller parties. The party on Monday formally announced Khan as the new Pakistan Prime Ministerial candidate.

--ANI